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Children's Opportunity Alliance supports elimination of ECCC at Brd. 11-25 public hearing
Summary
At a public hearing on Brd. 11-25 (Childcare Coordination Amendments), Laura Jerome of the Children's Opportunity Alliance supported eliminating the Early Childhood Coordinating Council (ECCC) and described plans to create a new advisory body under COA oversight.
During the April 29 public hearing on Brd. 11-25, which proposes eliminating the Childcare and Early Education Officer and the Early Childhood Coordinating Council (ECCC) and otherwise amends the county code governing early childhood services, Laura Jerome, manager of strategic initiatives for the Children's Opportunity Alliance (COA), testified in support of the proposed change.
Jerome told the Council that the COA, as the county's designated early care and education coordinating entity, previously consulted ECCC members through surveys and meetings and concluded a refreshed advisory structure would better serve current needs. She said COA advocated initially for the ECCC to continue but rethought the recommendation after governance review and concluded it would be cleaner to eliminate the ECCC by legislation and create a new advisory body under the Alliance's stewardship.
Jerome described COA's plan to launch a common agenda steering committee in June and to recruit a diverse membership representing system-level leaders and those delivering programs on the ground. COA will provide oversight and communication to the Alliance board, which Jerome said will remain the ultimate decision-making body.
The public hearing record shows no other speakers on this item. The Council closed the hearing and said committee work sessions on the bill will be scheduled at a later date and that materials for consideration may be submitted through May 8, 2025.
(Reporting from the April 29, 2025 Montgomery County Council meeting.)
