MS SB2033

Establishes the Early Childhood Services Interagency Coordinating Council to coordinate state and federally funded prekindergarten programs and eliminate duplication of effort.

Council membership consists of four members: State Superintendent of Public Education (or designee), State Health Officer (or designee), Executive Director of Department of Human Services (or designee), and Head Start Collaboration Director from the Governor's Office.

Council must meet by September 1, 2015, to organize and select a chairman and adopt bylaws.

Council shall align paperwork, monitoring visits, and evaluations across agencies through joint visits, common forms, and shared data to reduce redundancy.

Council shall conduct initial review of Early Learning Collaborative Act applications to verify applicants meet statutory requirements before full review by the Department of Education.

Council shall develop professional development standards for teacher core competencies in consultation with university schools of education.

Effective July 1, 2015.