LDOE reports CCAP wait‑list declines, improved performance profiles and plans for contracted‑seat transition; family engagement grants highlighted

The Louisiana Department of Education presented its quarter‑4 early childhood care and education report, citing a decline in the CCAP wait list, gains in early learning quality metrics and preparations to transition administration of certain contracted seats programs to the department.

Karen Powell, presenting performance data, told the council that the 2023–24 performance profiles represented the highest scores ever across site types. “More than 95% of sites [are] currently earning a rating of proficient or higher,” Powell said, and the share rated proficient or higher rose from 68% when ratings began to roughly 95% in the most recent cycle. Powell said infant/toddler and classroom organization domains have shown measurable gains and that the state is working to raise instructional support scores next.

In programmatic updates, staff said changes in CCAP eligibility and procedures effective Oct. 1, 2024 (including presumptive eligibility, suspension of child‑support income counts for eligibility, and $0 co‑payments for children with disabilities when eligible) have coincided with an increase in participation and an ongoing, month‑by‑month removal from the wait list. The department reported it is actively removing names from the wait list and that January data would show a larger reduction, moving the wait list from roughly 6,000 earlier toward about 5,000; staff said they are removing families beginning with older wait‑list entries and that exact month‑to‑month reasons vary (no longer needing care, failure to respond, or enrolled elsewhere).

Staff also reported the department is preparing to assume responsibility for certain administrative functions of the CCAP contracted‑seats program (the “B‑2‑3” program), including attendance tracking and under‑utilization monitoring, to streamline payments and to position the program for possible CCDF funding. As of December 2024, the department said 38 participating networks were enrolled in contracted seats with 3,858 children in those seats; staff said a stand‑up team will be organized to handle redeterminations and preserve continuity of care during any fiscal transition.

The department provided other program highlights: ECE Fund enrollment (local match fund) exceeded 1,700 enrolled across participating Ready Start Networks; EC Learn, the department’s free early‑childhood online training portal, saw rapid uptake with thousands of newly enrolled participants in recent months; and Tulane Tykes mental‑health consultants provided behavioral supports to hundreds of classrooms in quarter 4.

Council members pressed for operational details about the contracted‑seats transition. Staff said the planned timeline aims for a fiscal‑year transfer to enable possible CCDF funding and that more detailed transition dates and processes will be presented at a future quarterly meeting. Network representatives asked the department to share a plan that minimizes disruptions to attendance and payments.

Family engagement work funded by the department’s Preschool Development Grant was presented as an example of local efforts. Britney Cochran, LDOE director of academics, explained two cohorts of Ready Start Networks participated in a Family Engagement and Leadership Planning Grant and developed strategic plans for local outreach. Washington Parish and other networks used grant funds for family literacy events, book giveaways and a “Share the Magic” community event, and created family advisory councils to sustain engagement after the grant. Leslie and Christy Bennett from Washington Parish described outreach tactics: evening events, social media with raffles to boost participation, QR codes on takeaways, book distribution and coordination with community partners (libraries, health and dental providers) to reach families and connect them with developmental screening and services.

Providers and advocates at the meeting urged continued training and supports for teachers, and recommended layered professional development (foundational to advanced) and coaching to raise instructional practice. Powell and others said the department will continue to lean on CCR&Rs (Child Care Resource and Referral agencies) and network partners for coaching, and to expand EC Learn content.

A motion to receive the department’s report was made and seconded by Libby and Jen; the council recorded no opposition and the motion passed. Department staff committed to provide a more detailed plan and timeline for the contracted‑seats transition at the next quarterly report and to keep networks informed via office hours and direct communications.

Next steps: staff said they will continue removing families from the CCAP wait list month‑by‑month, prepare a transition plan for contracted seats (including proposed attendance tracking and payment timelines), expand EC Learn offerings, and incorporate family engagement grant learnings into revised family engagement bulletins.