A. The council is designated as the council required pursuant to the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007. The council shall fulfill all the duties required under the federal act for early childhood care and education. The council shall also lead the development or enhancement of a high-quality, comprehensive system of early childhood development and care that ensures statewide coordination and collaboration among the wide range of early childhood programs and services within the state, including child care, early head start, head start, federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act programs for preschool, infants and families and pre-kindergarten programs and services.

B. The council and department may apply for and accept gifts, grants, donations or bequests for the fund from any source, public or private, and enter into contracts or other transactions with any federal or state agency, any private organization or any other source in furtherance of the purpose of the Early Childhood Care and Education Act.

C. In addition to the duties assigned to the council under federal law, the council shall:

(1) make recommendations to the department and the legislature on the most efficient and effective way to leverage state and federal funding for early childhood care and education, including on grant applications made by the department to benefit the fund; and

(2) make recommendations to the department and the legislature on how to coordinate and align an early childhood care and education system to include child care, pre-kindergarten, home visitation, early head start, head start, early childhood special education, early intervention and family support and to provide New Mexico families with consistent access to appropriate care and education services. In developing recommendations, the council shall:

(a) consider how to consolidate and coordinate resources and public funding streams for early childhood care and education and ensure the accountability and coordinated development of all early childhood care and education services;

(b) consider a system of seamless transition from prenatal to early childhood programs to kindergarten;

(c) take into account a parent's decisive role in the planning, operation and evaluation of programs that aid families in the care and education of children;

(d) examine ways to provide consumer education and accessibility to early childhood care and education resources;

(e) consider the advancement of quality early childhood care and education programs in order to support the healthy development of children and preparation for their success in school;

(f) consider the development of a seamless service delivery system with local points of entry for early childhood care and education programs administered by local, state and federal agencies;

(g) ensure effective collaboration with state and local child welfare programs and early childhood health and behavioral health programs;

(h) consider how to develop and manage effective data collection systems to support the necessary functions of a coordinated system of early childhood care and education and track children through the education system from prenatal to early childhood to kindergarten to higher education, in order to enable accurate evaluation of the impact of early childhood care and education;

(i) focus on the diversity, cultural heritage and strengths of the families and communities of the state;

(j) consider the development of an aligned system of professional development for professionals providing early childhood care and education; and

(k) consider the establishment of an administrative framework to promote the development of high-quality early childhood care and education services that are staffed by well-qualified professionals and are available in every community for all families that express a need for them.

History: Laws 2011, ch. 123, § 5.

Effective dates. — Laws 2011, ch. 123 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 17, 2011, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.