January 31, 2005

With the resignation of CCDAA's State President Kathy Lafferty, I have become State President. My term will conclude in June of 2005 running approximately 7 months. For the 2005-2006 Year, I will work on CCDAA's State Board as Member Emeritus. With my becoming State President, Ellen Crosby becomes State President Elect, Sandy Edelbrock of Riverside County of Ed. becomes Southern Section President, Sheridan DeWolf of Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA. becomes Vice President and Pat Talley remains Member At Large. As Pat is retiring soon, Southern Section expects to elect a Member at Large to replace Pat at February's Southern Section Meeting.

A reminder that CCDAA's Annual Conference is being held in San Jose CA from Wednesday March 9-Friday March 11, 2005. Registration and Conference information can be reviewed at www.ccdaa.org

CCDAA is seeking an Author (a legislator from either the CA Senate or Assembly) on two bills to be sponsored this Legislative Term. The bill content is (1) Training Days for Child Development Staff and (2) a School Readiness Bill designed to support the Preschool for All movement in CA.

Your CCDAA State Board is in the process of securing an Executive Director for our association.

Governor Schwarzenegger has unveiled his planned budget for the 2005-06 Fiscal Year. For child Development, the Governor has proposed a 3.93 % COLA. He also proposes a tiered payment system for the AP Program. AP is the Alternative Payment Child Care Program that is housed in private homes. Currently payments are the same for in home care providers regardless of their credential held. The Governor wants to make payments to providers based on the quality/content of their program offered and the credential held.

Because of my position in CCDAA, I was invited to hear State Superintendent of Education Jack O'Connell's Address on the State of Education in CA. Here are some summarizing thoughts on this address. Preschool for all children is most important. Research has shown that preschool experiences for children allow for more productive adult citizens. There needs to be a seamless transition between preschool and the elementary classroom. Preschool classes need to be socially important allowing children to grow socially and interactively as well as academically. Preschool for all children needs to happen either by legislation or ballot initiative. The Superintendent will work to see that one of these funding vehicles is initiated. For a long time preschool teachers have received less pay than their K-12 colleagues. Preschool teachers pay must increase, but so must the education expectation increase. Preschool teacher training must be an ongoing priority. There must be higher education standards (degrees(s) earned) to which preschool teachers are held.

Prop. 98 must be left alone and the percentage of the State Budget, which goes to education, should remain the same. If change occurs, the percentage amount of the State Budget going to education from Prop. 98 should increase not decrease.

Bruce Ramet
State President