By:  Linebarger                                       H.C.R. No. 87
       73R6559 BNL-D
                                 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, One of the foremost goals of early childhood
    1-2  education efforts is that, by the year 2000, all children enter
    1-3  school physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to learn, and
    1-4  this goal has been given highest priority at national and state
    1-5  levels; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, In order to meet this goal, the State of Texas must
    1-7  examine the current early childhood education system in all of its
    1-8  many forms, including prekindergarten programs, nursery schools,
    1-9  Head Start, child care centers, and group day homes, and evaluate
   1-10  the roles that each institution plays in preparing children to meet
   1-11  the challenges of the future; special attention must be given to
   1-12  the training and preparation of teachers and caregivers in these
   1-13  programs; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, It is in these early, critical stages of development
   1-15  that adults can have the most profound impact upon a child's
   1-16  attitudes toward learning and sense of self-esteem; thus, it is
   1-17  imperative that child care professionals understand a wide range of
   1-18  information concerning child development, health and safety,
   1-19  positive adult-child interactions, and much more; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Currently, the State of Texas lacks a professional
   1-21  preparation system for early childhood teachers and caregivers that
   1-22  is coordinated through a single umbrella structure; this lack of
   1-23  uniform standards and training has created a child care system of
   1-24  uneven quality and has created barriers for children moving from
    2-1  one phase of early childhood learning to the next, such as a child
    2-2  moving from a day care center into a kindergarten classroom; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, A comprehensive professional preparation system
    2-4  could implement higher professional standards in this field by
    2-5  creating a core curriculum for all early care and education
    2-6  practitioners, whether they work in a day care setting, a Head
    2-7  Start program, or a classroom; this would result in increased
    2-8  consistency of curriculum content for the preparation of early
    2-9  childhood personnel; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, A coordinated training system would better meet the
   2-11  needs of those entering the early childhood education field and
   2-12  would facilitate transition and communication between the various
   2-13  types of early learning institutions; furthermore, it would create
   2-14  a more structured career track for child care professionals and
   2-15  would allow them to move from one training institution to another
   2-16  without losing credit for the skills and knowledge they have
   2-17  already acquired; and
   2-18        WHEREAS, Several organizations, including a task force
   2-19  appointed by the governor to study the coordination of services to
   2-20  children and families, have supported the wisdom of such a
   2-21  comprehensive approach to early childhood education; and
   2-22        WHEREAS, Today's children are tomorrow's leaders, and they
   2-23  deserve the best educational opportunities available; by closely
   2-24  examining the training and educational needs of those who care for
   2-25  children, we are making a sound investment in our future; now,
   2-26  therefore, be it
   2-27        RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas
    3-1  hereby request the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to
    3-2  study curriculum needs for adequate training of early childhood
    3-3  care and education professionals in a comprehensive personnel
    3-4  preparation system; and, be it further
    3-5        RESOLVED, That the board make a report of its findings to the
    3-6  74th  Legislature before it convenes in 1995.