Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

TOPEKA — The governor issued an executive order today creating a new council for assessing the state's early childhood development programs and services.

The Kansas Early Childhood Advisory Council will work with similar agencies and panels already in existence, including the Kansas Children's Cabinet and the Kansas Early Learning Coordinating Council.

The federal Head Start Reauthorization Act of 2007 required creation of the council, whose coordinator will be Jim Redmon, executive director of the Children's Cabinet.

Members have not yet been named, but according to the executive order there will be at least nine members, including representatives of state and local education agencies and Head Start.

“I am proud to form this advisory council that will assess the ways in which Kansas can maximize early childhood education opportunities for our kids,” Gov. Mark Parkinson said in a prepared statement. “Starting their learning process early can make a big difference in their development. These young individuals are the future of Kansas, and an investment in their education is an investment in the future success of our communities and our state.”

According to the Governor's Office, the council, among other things, will assess the availability of "high-quality, pre-kindergarten services for low-income children." It also will develop recommendations for increasing participation in early childhood programs and establishment of a unified data collection system.

Members of the council will be named before the group's first meeting, probably in July, according to the Governor's Office.