THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR JOE MANCHIN.

CHARLESTON -- Gov. Joe Manchin has issued an executive order that gives the Partners Implementing an Early Care and Education System Advisory Council (PIECES) the authority to study governance of early childhood, develop quality standards and examine financing of an early child care and education program.

The order directs the PIECES Council, which includes representatives from the state Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Resources, business, labor, and other childcare providers, to devise the plan and examine how early care can be funded.

The plan will establish a rating system on early child care programs.

“The First Lady and I share a strong belief that the earlier we start with quality education for our children, the greater their chance for success later in life,” the governor said.

“As adults, as parents, and as leaders on the local and state level, it is our responsibility to give our children a positive start in life. Giving the PIECES council this authority is an important step toward building a quality childhood system that will serve our families and in turn the state’s future development.”

The executive order was issued in response to priorities established as a result of the Policy Matters Project, a year-long analysis of existing policies in the area of early childhood development.

Juliet A. Terry, president of Vision Shared, said, “Economists have shown that early child development is highly beneficial to children, increasing their capacity to be more productive workers and citizens.”

PIECES was established as an advisory council to develop a vision for the early care and education system in West Virginia for children from birth through 5 years of age. The order calls for the council to report its progress to the governor by the end of next June.

In addition to gathering information on early care and education governance, the order calls on the council to coordinate dialogue among agencies and organizations involved in this effort to establish a quality early care and education program.