Statewide Early Childhood Strategic Planning Launched While Needs Assessment Nears Completion

Posted 11-19-19

A new comprehensive strategic planning process is underway for Alaska’s early childhood care and education system, coordinated by AASB on behalf of the Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development (DEED) with federal funding from the Preschool Development Grant B-5 (PDGB-5). Denali Daniels + Associates (DDA) of Anchorage and Juneau submitted the top-ranked proposal to design and write the strategic plan as selected by a five-member review team convened by AASB. DDA began work at a strategic planning meeting of Alaska’s Early Childhood Joint Task Force on October 2, 2019. More engagement sessions and stakeholder meetings took place Nov. 6 and Nov. 8 during AASB’s Annual Conference in Anchorage and many more, including site visits to at least four rural regional hubs, are scheduled for mid-late November and early December.

At the same time, the Needs Assessment of Alaska’s Mixed-Delivery System of Early Childhood Care and Education is being finalized. The needs assessment will provide baseline data and findings to guide the strategic planning process. It was also made possible with federal funds from PDGB-5 awarded to DEED and was also coordinated by AASB.

For more information about the early childhood strategic planning process and needs assessment contact Betsy Brenneman, Preschool Development Grant Coordinator at AASB, bbrenneman@nullaasb.org