Lt. Governor Denn and PNC Bank Delaware President Connie Bond Stuart Kick-off Delaware Early Childhood "Policy Matters" Commission

New Commission will establish a clear, long-term vision for improved early childhood services

For Immediate Release: June 5, 2009

Wilmington- Lieutenant Governor Matthew Denn and PNC Bank Delaware President Connie Bond Stuart convened today the first meeting of a new Commission that will develop a detailed, prioritized plan for improving early childhood care in the State of Delaware. The Commission, which will be assisted by a national expert from Columbia University, is made up of twenty-five policymakers, caregivers, and experts from throughout the state, and is being underwritten by the Delaware Business Roundtable.

"The state's budget crisis has made it impossible for us to spend money on new efforts right now," Denn said, "but when our economy turns around, the state's first new investments should be in children, and this Commission's work will be helpful in determining how we should prioritize those investments."

Dr. Sharon Lynn Kagan, professor of Early Childhood and Family Policy Columbia University, Co-Director of the National Center for Children and Families, and adjunct professor at Yale University's Child Study Center, will be advising the new commission on best practices found around the country and world in early childhood care. Dr. Kagan is internationally recognized for her work related to the care and education of young children, and has also worked with a number of other states on Policy Matters efforts. Dr. Kagan is also known locally, for help developing Delaware's Early Success plan several years ago.

Also addressing the commission today was Dr. Steve Barnett, co-director of the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University and renowned expert on the economics of early care and education, who discussed the landscape of Pre-kindergarten policy nationally and in Delaware.

"There is a lot of momentum around early childhood care, spanning the federal government, our Governor and Lt. Governor, and Delaware's focused efforts delivered through Vision 2015 and the Early Childhood Council," said Stuart. "Today's economic climate presents unprecedented challenges, and the Commission will play a critical role in ensuring that our priorities for early childhood care make sense and position our future leaders for success."

Denn has written legislation, sponsored by Representative Terry Schooley and Senator Patricia Blevins, that would implement a prior recommendation of Delaware's Early Childhood Council by requiring insurance coverage of sophisticated developmental screenings for infants and toddlers. That legislation is scheduled to be heard by a House of Representatives committee this Wednesday, June 10th.