,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cceg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #bh1 #bjac,ms4 ,meng 7for herself and ,mr4 ,polis7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,education to make grants to ,states to improve the knowledge1 credentials1 compensation1 and professional development of early childhood educators working with children in early childhood education programs4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,early ,childhood ,education ,professional ,improvement ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to provide assistance to ,states to improve the knowledge1 credentials1 compensation1 and professional development of early childhood educators working with children in early childhood education programs4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,the term early childhood education program means a ,head ,start ,program carried out under the ,head ,start ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihca et seq471 a ,state-funded prekindergarten program1 a licensed child care serving prekindergarten children1 and special education preschool4 7#b7 ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 #d4 ,program authorized ,the ,secretary of ,education1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 is authorized to award grants to ,states to implement and administer the activities described in section #f4 #e4 ,applications 7a7 ,in general ,each ,state desiring a grant under this ,act shall submit an application to the ,secretary of ,education at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require4 7b7 ,contents ,each application submitted under subsection 7a7 shall include a description of the ,state's comprehensive early childhood professional development system1 including the following3 7#a7 ,a description of how the ,state's system was developed in collaboration with the ,state ,advisory ,council on ,early ,childhood ,education and ,care designated or established under section #fdb;,b of the ,head ,start ,act1 the ,state agency responsible for administering childcare1 the ,state ,head ,start collaboration director1 the ,state educational agency1 institutions of higher education1 organizations that represent early childhood educators1 and credible early childhood education professional organizations4 7#b7 ,a designation of a ,state agency to administer the grant program4 7#c7 ,a description of how the ,state's system provides-- 7,a7 an oversight structure for the system2 7,b7 professional standards and competencies2 7,c7 a career lattice2 7,d7 coordination with ,state higher education agencies1 higher education accrediting bodies1 and accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education2 7,e7 encouragement of articulation agreements between two- and four-year institutions of higher education and credit-bearing opportunities and articulation agreements that recognize prior learning and expertise2 7,f7 more accessible higher education for working learners through offering of college courses at accessible time and locations1 with particular attention to rural areas2 7,g7 support to adult learners who are dual language learners1 or come from low-income or minority communities2 7,h7 use of workforce data to assess the ,state's workforce needs2 and 7,i7 its financing over time4 #f4 ,state use of funds ,a ,state that receives a grant under this ,act shall ensure that grant funds are used to carry out the following3 7#a7 ,to provide scholarships to cover the costs of tuition1 fees1 materials1 transportation1 paid substitutes1 and release time for preschool teachers employed in an early childhood education program to pursue a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a closely related field4 7#b7 ,to support preschool teachers employed in an early childhood education program1 and who have obtained a bachelor's degree in a field other than early childhood education or a closely related field1 to attain a credential1 licensure1 or endorsement that demonstrates competence in early childhood education4 7#c7 ,to increase compensation for teachers who are enrolled and making progress toward a degree in early childhood education and to provide parity of compensation upon completion of such degree and retention in the early childhood education program4 7#d7 ,to provide ongoing professional development opportunities to preschool teachers and teacher assistants employed in an early childhood education program that address-- 7,a7 all areas of child development and learning 7cognitive1 social1 emotional1 and physical72 7,b7 teacher-child interaction2 7,c7 family engagement2 and 7,d7 cultural competence for working with a diversity of children 7including children with special needs and dual language learners7 and families4 #g4 ,supplement not supplant ,grant funds provided under this ,act shall supplement1 and not supplant1 other ,federal1 ,state1 and local funds that are available for early childhood educator preparation and professional development4 #h4 ,maintenance of effort ,a ,state that receives funds under this ,act for a fiscal year shall maintain the fiscal effort provided by the ,state for the activities supported by the funds under this ,act at a level equal to or greater than the level of such fiscal effort for the preceding fiscal year4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years #bjad through #bjai4