Santa Cruz County Office of Education Receives David and Lucille Packard Preschool Planning Grant

This year the Child Care Planning Council, Santa Cruz County Office of Education and First 5 will lead a countywide effort to produce a comprehensive blueprint for offering voluntary preschool to all county children in the last two years before entering kindergarten. The planning process will ensure that Santa Cruz County is ready to move forward as state and/or local or private funding become available.

Join the planning process.

Follow our progress on-line by reading about our meetings, data findings and current questions and answers from the community.

View our meeting schedule.

Meeting agendas and minutes can be viewed here.

Current News

Current projects of the Child Care Planning Council:

View the recently released Santa Cruz County Child Care Planning Council’s Annual Report for 2007-2008.

View the recently developed Professional Development Planning Toolkit for Early Care and Education Advisors, Students and Professionals.

Planning for the 2008 Central Coast Early Care and Education Conference began in September, 2007. View the Agendas and Minutes page for details on meeting times and locations.

The Planning Council has drafted a new Five Year County Master Plan for Early Care and Education and School Age Extended Learning. View the new Master Plan.

Functions of the Child Care Planning Council

• Conducts a five-year Needs Assessment and from that assessment, creates a Master Plan for child care and early education in the County. See the Reports page of this site for the latest Needs Assessment and Master Plan.

• Based on annual data collection and analysis, develops a Priorities Report for child care expansion funding from the state (pertains state subsidized programs only).

• Considers request for letter of support (both grant and non-grant). Download a request form for a non-grant related letter of support. Download a request form for a grant related letter of support.

• Meets periodically with local and state elected officials to inform them of the early care needs of Santa Cruz County's children and families.

• Hosts a variety of working committees designed to address current challenges and opportunities in the field of Early Care and Education and School Age Extended Learning.

• Advocates for family and child care friendly policies locally, state wide and on the national level.

• Engages and educates the public on issues relevant to Early Care and Education and School Age Extended Learning programs.

Click here for a list of commonly used Child Care Planning Council acronyms and terms.

Current Funding Opportunties

Current CA Dept of Education Funding Opportunities:

Child Care Facilities Revolving Fund --General Facilities Application

California After School Demonstration Program - ASES & 21st CCLC

21st CCLC - Regional After School Technical Assistance System

After School Education and Safety - Regional Lead Technical Assistance System

Facilities Renovation and Repair