HB 5562 Summary

• Establishes the Office of Early Childhood with a Commissioner appointed by the Governor to coordinate and oversee all early childhood care, education, and development programs and services previously administered by multiple state agencies

• Transfers administration of child care subsidy programs, school readiness programs, child day care licensing, and related services from the Departments of Education, Social Services, and Public Health to the new Office of Early Childhood, effective July 1, 2014

• Requires teacher preparation programs to include instruction on literacy skills and, on and after July 1, 2015, instruction on detection and recognition of dyslexia and evidence-based interventions for students with dyslexia

• Establishes an early childhood information system to track health, safety, and school readiness data for young children receiving early care and education services, and requires development of an early childhood accountability plan with performance measures by December 31, 2015

• Requires IEP forms to include "SLD - Dyslexia" as a specific learning disability category and expands parent notification requirements to include information about the right to withhold kindergarten enrollment