EdS-Today-QA2-150x1501.jpgExpanding publicly funded care for children under 5 is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Didactics, said Libby Doggett, the deputy banana secretary of Policy and Early on Learning.

Doggett, a Texas native, was appointed in late Baronial 2022 to supervene upon Jacqueline Jones, the first person to agree the mail created by President Barack Obama in November 2011.

Doggett began her career in the classroom every bit a first grade teacher in Austin. She has since worked with the National Caput Start Association and most recently led The Pew Charitable Trust'southward entrada to expand home visiting programs for expectant mothers and mothers with young children living in poverty. Doggett is married to Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas. Rep. Doggett is the ranking fellow member on Human Resource, a subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means, which deals with child care, foster care and adoption among other issues.

Doggett said she brings a "deep understanding of all aspects of the early learning field" to her job at the Department of Education.

Libby Doggett is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Early Learning at the U.S. Department of Education. Credit: Lillian Mongeau, EdSource

Libby Doggett is the Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Policy and Early Learning at the U.South. Section of Education. Credit: Lillian Mongeau, EdSource

Doggett saturday down with EdSource at an Education Writers Association conference on early instruction in New Orleans. Excerpts from the interview are below.

EdSource Today: Tin can you start by explaining what is so important to y'all about early on learning?

Libby Doggett: The research is really articulate that these are important years in a kid's life, and I recollect we've been wasting them in many cases. It isn't just pre-K. It's a birth to (age) five, or even birth to (age) 8 system that needs to be in identify to get kids off to the best start.

EdSource: In your new position every bit the Banana Secretary for Early Education, what would you lot say is your top priority in the side by side ii years?

Doggett: The president's agenda of preschool for all is my No. 1 priority because nosotros want to take a behemothic jump forrard and not just abound these (state-funded preschool) programs incrementally.

In that location's a lot of work that needs to exist done with kindergarten, first and 2nd grades. Those grades have been largely ignored. They're very, very important. So we're focusing on those at the Department of Education as well.

Nosotros are also working on an inter-bureau policy board that Linda Smith from the Department of HHS ACF (Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families) runs. She and I co-chair the board. Nosotros're looking at how can we bring the Department of Education programs and HHS's programs closer together.

EdSource: Y'all mentioned Obama's agenda and proposal to have preschool for all. That's gotten a lot of resistance. People don't want to outset a new program, especially Republicans in Washington, D.C. Do you have whatsoever sense that that might be overcome?

Doggett: I think it'south too shortly to tell. In that location'due south another election next fall. There'll be some major changes in Congress. (U.S. Secretary of Education) Arne Duncan is not giving up. Early learning is one of our major priorities.

You have 30 states that have increased their funding for pre-K over the last year. That's bipartisan traction. That'southward Republican governors and Democratic governors proverb, "This is of import enough that I'm going to put new money in." And some of them are starting new programs. And so I think we will overcome (the resistance). It may take a year or two.

Doggett_1 Bluntly, I recall the resistance is that this is something that the president cares nearly. The name "Obama" seems to carry some weight with lots of people, and unfortunately with the Republicans it seems to be a detriment.

EdSource: In that location are universal preschool programs, which are really more focused on targeting for lower-income families. Then there are universal programs like the proposal to expand transitional kindergarten in California that would be for all 4-year-olds. What do you think is a better path?

Doggett: Of course, I'chiliad very excited almost what'south happening in California. I think the transitional kindergarten program is truly the way we need to go in all states.

I believe, and this is me talking personally, that pre-K for all children is best. Nosotros all learn more from each other, or as much from each other, as we do from a teacher. Having children in a class that's more than mixed is practiced. Middle-income families have to pay a whole lot for high-quality programs, as much as $12,000 to $twenty,000 a year. They could be putting that away for college.

And since we know the enquiry is right, that these are the most important years, why aren't nosotros (providing preschool) for every kid? The Obama plan is to provide states funding for children (living in families who earn) upward to 200 percent (of the federal poverty level). (Editor's note: The federal poverty level for a family unit of 4 is $23,850 in almanac income.) That's a great showtime. And I remember when that happens, states volition be able to put in the funding that they're currently putting in to provide for those heart-income families likewise.

EdSource: What can states wait from the Race to the Top Early Learning Claiming grant programme this year?

Doggett: It'southward $250 1000000. If y'all look at the congressional language, they're saying this should be for preschool development grants either for states that don't take much (of a preschool plan) or for states that really want to take (their preschool programs) to the next level.

Doggett_2We're negotiating with HHS because they volition jointly oversee this, and with the White Firm, and with Congress to make certain what nosotros hear is what they intended.

We plainly also really want to hear from the field. And so we are designing an outreach program where we will put a blog up, take people respond to that, then have some meetings where people can come in and tell us what they think.

EdSource: And is it off-white to say that the Early Learning Challenge grants, this fourth dimension around, are going to exist similar to what was proposed in the Strong Starting time for Children Act? (Editor'due south note: The Strong Start for Children Act, introduced in both houses of Congress in November, would create a federal grant program for states hoping to create or expand publicly funded preschool programs.)

Doggett: I recollect this will exist a combination of the preschool development grants (for states with minimal preschool infrastructure) and maybe a starting time pace, a down payment, on the preschool for all (grants to aggrandize large, existing state-funded preschool programs) so that we really will see more than than but systems development.

Y'all know, we oasis't talked a lot about the Race to the Top (Early Learning Challenge grants) that are currently in identify, only we have $1 billion in twenty states out there building their early babyhood system. I've been looking very advisedly at those states and what they're doing. It's pretty heady.

EdSource: Yes, we in California have some of that money. Can you tell me a little of what yous're seeing in California?

Doggett: California has a actually good plan. I was concerned it was going to be a trivial disjointed, but I've been reassured, in looking at it more advisedly, that it is going to bring the country together. You lot all are working really difficult, equally all states are, on a tiered quality comeback rating system. I'thousand glad to see that. I call up that is a manner to bring the system together and ensure that parents know what they're getting.

Doggett_3EdSource: We're waiting to see what happens with the Potent Commencement for Children Act in Congress. In the meantime, if states desire to try to be prepared to be eligible for that money, what are some suggestions you would give them?

Doggett: I tell land and local leaders, "Don't wait for the federal government to deed." We need the federal government to act, but we demand states to do more and we demand communities to practice more. This is not going to happen because the Strong Start human action passes; it's going to happen because this pushes up from the grassroots and parents need and grandparents demand and teachers and school systems demand that we exercise more for early learning.

I think the best thing states can practice is continue doing what they're doing, which is build those systems and exercise what's best for kids and, y'all know, continue to work with us to brand sure nosotros get some federal money to help back up that.

Lillian Mongeau covers early childhood education. Contact her or follow her @lrmongeau.

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