Gov. John Kitzhaber has appointed Council 75 Political Coordinator Eva Rippeteau to Oregon's Early Learning Council (ELC), as created by HB 4165 in the 2012 legislative session. The ELC is the age 0-5 portion of the governor's education reform plan to align education from age 0 through college.

The ELC assumed a variety of duties and responsibilities, as outlined in HB 4165, on July 1 — including the assumption of duties previously held by the Commission for Childcare and the Oregon Commission on Children and Families, both of which expired June 30, 2012. In addition, the ELC has the responsibility to serve as Oregon's official State Advisory Council on the Education and Care for Children as required under the federal Head Start Act.

Rippeteau has worked as a political coordinator for Oregon AFSCME Council 75 covering child care, FMLA, and other issues in the Legislature since September 2010. In her role at Oregon AFSCME, she represents over 250 Head Start workers, more than 3,000 licensed, in-home child care providers, MESD employees and hundreds of county and private non-profit employees who work with families with children age 0-5.

"I am honored to have been appointed by the governor to the Early Learning Council to be a voice for the people who do the day-to-day work of caring for our children and helping families connect with crucial services in the state," said Rippeteau.

Not coincidentally, Rippeteau worked HB 4165 during February's legislative mini-session.

"When the bill first came out there were issues that needed to be addressed, including clarifying definitions on Head Start standards, extending timelines for the county commissions on children and families and clarifying what was meant by 'quality' child care," said Rippeteau, that last item of importance to AFSCME Local 132 (Child Care Providers) members. "The governor's office and state Rep. Tina Kotek (D-Portland), the bill sponsor, were responsive to the concerns brought forward and got the bill amended. We supported the amended bill and helped it pass."

In addition to Rippeteau, the other members of the new Early Learning Council include Vikki Bishop, Early Childhood Education Program Manager, Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde; Kim Williams, Director of North Central ESD Early Education; Harriet Adair, Regional Administrator, Portland Public Schools; Nancy Latini, Deputy Superintendent, Oregon Department of Education; Lynne Saxton, Executive Director, Christie Care-Youth Villages of Oregon; Jim Tierney, Executive Director, Community Action Team; Dana Hargunani, Child Health Director, Oregon Health Authority; Dell Ford, Oregon Head Start Collaboration Director; and Kara Waddell, Administrator, Oregon Child Care Division.