Section 10Sec./Art. 10

Functions of the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall carry out the objectives of the ECCD System by performing the following functions:

(a) Formulate the policies and guidelines in consultation with LGUs and other stakeholders, including the regional and local levels when appropriate, and promulgate and implement such policies and guidelines, consistent with the objectives and system framework as defined in this Act;

(b) Establish standards and review the ECCD Curriculum every two (2) years to facilitate the seamless transition of young children to, and their adequate preparation for the formal learning system that begin at kindergarten, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations;

(c) Develop a national standard for the recruitment of qualified CDTs and CDWs, and other service providers. It shall likewise develop programs from the continuing education, reskilling, and upskiling of CDTs, CDWs, and other service providers, supervisors, and administrators, in coordination with the CHED and the TESDA, to improve the ECCD sector and upgrade quality standards of public and private ECCD programs;

(d) Issue minimum requirements for the establishment of center-based and home-based modalities, and other alternative modalities that provide innovations, and the conversion of existing public day care centers into CDCs such as specifications for the facilities and resources to be used in the effective delivery of the ECCD programs;

(e) Administer the recognition and accreditation of public ECCD programs;

(f) Provide guidelines for streamlining the delivery of ECCD services, taking into consideration the number of children being soared by each CDC, the physical accessibility of CDCs, and the availability of funds and resources of the LGUs, among others. Streamlining measures may be include clustering of CDCs for multiple barangays, and the promotion of center-based and home-based modalities, and other alternative modalities that provide innovations as far as practicable, particularly in areas where very few young children are serviced by the CDCs and for LGUs with limited resources;

(g) Develop a national system of awards and recognition for deserving ECCD program implementers and service providers;

(h) Conduct regular independent audit on the delivery services to the ECCD program beneficiaries nationwide;

(i) Conduct research and policy studies on ECCD, evaluate and assess the impact of various ECCD programs, and report the outcome nationwide through an effective information system;

(j) Recommend new legislation to promote the educational welfare, and physical and psychosocial well-being of the child, or amendatory legislation to enhance the provisions and improve the implementation of this Act;

(k) Develop a national system for registration, early identification, screening, and monitoring of young children below five (5) years of age under the ECCD programs with the aim of universal access while ensuring an interoperable network of information systems with the DepEd;

(l) Develop various support mechanisms and sustainable financing models for scaling quality and effective ECCD programs that maximize public and private resources, giving priority to the needy and high-risk children from poor and disadvantaged communities;

(m) Promote and encourage private sector initiatives for the establishment of ECCD programs;

(n) Provide guidelines for the conduct of solicitations from local and international civic organizations, and request private foundations to supplement available resources;

(o) Promote ECCD programs to stakeholders, targeting all communities with special consideration for at-risk children and families, through information, education, and communication campaigns, with the aim of increasing the attendance of children below five (5) years of age in such programs;

(p) Develop high-quality learning resources to support ECCD for center-based modalities, home-based modalities, and community programs; and

(q) Perform such other functions as the ECCD Council may deem necessary.