After a tough budget battle this year, California delivered good news this week, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order creating a council that will lead the development of a statewide early learning system.

After struggling with a massive budget deficit, the new council will help California secure up to $10.7 million in federal economic stimulus money for early learning efforts, according to the governor’s press release.

“The council will lead efforts to develop a high-quality, comprehensive early childhood education system and will strengthen state-level coordination and collaboration among California’s early learning and child care programs. The council will also make recommendations on developing a comprehensive early childhood data system; increasing access to early childhood education, particularly for the children who need it most; and developing or enhancing systems that improve children’s school readiness,” Preschool California said in a statement.

Among the council’s new duties are offering recommendations about a statewide plan for career and professional development in early childhood education and on unified data collection for public early learning programs. The order also calls on the council to assess the ability of California’s higher education system to support and develop professionals in early education.

The effort tracks what is happening in Washington state, where education leaders are in the middle of drafting a statewide early learning plan.

The executive order links Republican Gov. Schwarzenegger and Democratic President Barack Obama on an important early learning initiative according to First 5 California.

“By signing the executive order, Governor Schwarzenegger is joining with the Obama Administration in its commitment to ensuring all children are prepared to succeed in school and in life, First 5 California executive director Kris Perry said in a statement.