,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #afgc  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #g1 #bjac,mr4 
,frank5 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions  
,a ,,bill  ,to help ,/ates develop &    
improve ! qualifications & tra9+ ( _!   
e>ly *ildhood educator work=ce4  #a4    
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,e>ly ,*ildhood ,c>e & ,education       
,work=ce ,improvem5t ,act4  #b4 ,purpose
 ,! purpose ( ?is ,act is to help ,/ates
 build _! capacity to tra91 cr$5tial1   
fairly comp5sate1 & reta9 a highly      
qualifi$ e>ly *ildhood c>e & education  
work=ce4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3  
7#a7 ,*ild ,! t]m *ild means a *ild--   
7,a7 :o is age #e or y\ng]2 or  7,b7 :o 
has n yet ent]$ k9d]g>t54  7#b7 ,e>ly   
*ildhood c>e & education program ,! t]m 
e>ly *ildhood c>e & education program   
means-- 7,a7 any program or provid]1    
reg>dless ( sett+ or fund+ s\rce1 t     
provides e>ly c>e & education = *ildr51 

includ+ any program op]at$ by a *ild c>e
 c5t] or 9 a family *ild c>e home2  7,b7
 any pres*ool program fund$ by ! ,f$]al 
,gov]nm5t1 a ,/ate1 or a local          
educational ag5cy2 or  7,c7 an ,e>ly    
,head ,/>t program or ,head ,/>t        
program4  7#c7 ,e>ly *ildhood educator  
,! t]m e>ly *ildhood educator means an  
individual :o works 9 an e>ly *ildhood  
c>e & education program t is            
,/ate-lic5s$ or ,/ate-regulat$ & :o is--
 7,a7 a c5t]-bas$ or family *ild c>e    
provid]2  7,b7 an infant or toddl]      
speciali/2  7,c7 an e>ly int]v5tion     
speciali/ or e>ly *ildhood special      
educator2  7,d7 a ,head ,/>t or ,e>ly   
,head ,/>t tea*] or tea*] assi/ant2     
7,e7 a pres*ool tea*]1 o!r tea*]1 or    
tea*] assi/ant2 or  7,f7 a provid] (    
tra9+ or te*nical assi/ance4  7#d7 ,e>ly
 ,head ,/>t ,! t]m ,e>ly ,head ,/>t     
means an ,e>ly ,head ,/>t program       
support$ "u section #fde;,a ( ! ,head   
,/>t ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihdj74  7#e7  
,e>ly le>n+ guidel9es ,! t]m e>ly le>n+ 

guidel9es means a set ( /&>ds or        
guidel9es t-- 7,a7 describe :at all     
*ildr5 %\ld "k & be able to d2  7,b7 are
 appropriate = ea* age gr\p 7su* z      
infants1 toddl]s1 & pres*ool]s71 =      
,engli% le>n]s1 & = *ildr5 )            
disabilities or developm5tal delays2    
7,c7 cov] all areas ( *ild developm5t & 
e>ly le>n+ relat$ to ! ess5tial doma9s (
 s*ool read9ess1 includ+ cognitive1     
social1 emotional1 & physical           
developm5t1 & approa*es to le>n+2 &     
7,d7 are univ]sally design$ &           
developm5tally1 culturally1 &           
l+ui/ically appropriate4  7#f7 ,head    
,/>t ,! t]m ,head ,/>t means ! ,head    
,/>t program support$ "u ! ,head ,/>t   
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihca et seq474     
7#g7 ,in/itution ( high] education ,!   
t]m in/itution ( high] education has !  
mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #aja7;a7 ( ! 
,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj     
,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774  7#h7 ,quality    
rat+ & improvem5t sy/em ,! t]m quality  
rat+ & improvem5t sy/em means a ti]$    

quality rat+ sy/em = e>ly *ildhood c>e &
 education programs1 :i* %all-- 7,a7    
conta9 multiple quality rat+ levels t   
build on ea* o!r1 lead+ to nationally   
recogniz$ /&>ds ( program quality2  7,b7
 appropriately assess ! quality ( e>ly  
*ildhood c>e & education programs 9 !   
,/ate2  7,c7 build on lic5s+ /&>ds & o!r
 ,/ate regulatory /&>ds = su* programs2 
7,d7 be design$ to improve ! quality (  
diff]5t types ( e>ly *ildhood c>e &     
education programs2  7,e7 describe !    
quality ( e>ly *ildhood c>e & education 
programs2  7,f7 build ! capacity ( ,/ate
 e>ly *ildhood c>e & education programs 
& communities to promote p>5ts' &       
families' und]/&+ ( ! ,/ate's e>ly      
*ildhood c>e & education programs & !   
rat+s ( ! programs 9 :i* ! *ild is      
enroll$2 &  7,g7 provide f9ancial       
inc5tives & o!r supports to e>ly        
*ildhood c>e & education programs to    
a*ieve & su/a9 high] levels ( quality4  
7#i7 ,secret>ies ,! t]m ,secret>ies     
means ! ,secret>y ( ,education & !      

,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices4   
7#aj7 ,/ate ,! t]m ,/ate means ea* ( !  
sev]al ,/ates ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 !      
,di/rict ( ,columbia1 ! ,commonweal? (  
,pu]to ,rico1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9    
,isl&s1 ,guam1 ,am]ican ,samoa1 & !     
,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s4
  #d4 ,program au?oriz$ ,f ! am\nts made
 available "u section #aa1 !            
,secret>ies1 9 accordance ) ! int]ag5cy 
agreem5t describ$ 9 section #aj1 are    
au?oriz$ to aw>d grants1 on a           
competitive basis1 to ,/ates hav+       
applications approv$ "u section #e1 to  
enable su* ,/ates to implem5t & adm9i/] 
! activities & initiatives describ$ 9   
section #f4  #e4 ,applications  7a7 ,9  
g5]al ,ea* ,/ate desir+ a grant "u ?is  
,act %all submit an application to !    
,secret>ies at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 &   
accompani$ by su* in=mation z !         
,secret>ies may reasonably require4  7b7
 ,cont5ts ,ea* application submitt$ "u  
subsection 7a7 %all include ! foll[+3   
7#a7 ,a demon/ration ( an exi/+         

compreh5sive e>ly *ildhood educator     
pr(essional developm5t sy/em 9 ! ,/ate1 
or a plan = develop+ su* a sy/em t--    
7,a7 is develop$ 9 collaboration )-- 7i7
 ! ,/ate ,advisory ,c\ncil on ,e>ly     
,*ildhood ,education & ,c>e designat$ or
 e/abli%$ "u section #fdb;,b7b77#a77;,a7
 ( ! ,head ,/>t ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#ihcg;a7b77#a77;,a771 :]e applicable2   
7ii7 an adm9i/rator ( a ,/ate lead ag5cy
 7z describ$ 9 section #feh;,d ( ! ,*ild
 ,c>e & ,developm5t ,block ,grant ,act (
 #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheh;b772  7iii7 
! ,/ate ,director ( ,head ,/>t          
,collaboration appo9t$ or designat$ "u  
section #fdb;,b7a77#c77;,a7 ( ! ,head   
,/>t ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4                
#ihcg;b7a77#c77;,a772  7iv7 ! ,/ate     
educational ag5cy 7z def9$ 9 section    
#iaja ( ! ,elem5t>y & ,second>y         
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#ghja772  7v7 in/itutions ( high]       
education t aw>d a degree 9 e>ly        
*ildhood education2 &  7vi7 e>ly        
*ildhood education pr(essional          

organizations2  7,b7 uses available e>ly
 *ildhood c>e & education work=ce data1 
su* z ! p]c5tage ( ! e>ly *ildhood      
educators :o hold a lic5se or c]tificate
 9 e>ly *ildhood c>e & education1 9 ord]
 to assess & provide res\rces = !       
,/ate's e>ly *ildhood c>e & education   
work=ce ne$s2 &  7,c7 coord9ates ) !    
,/ate high] education ag5cy 7z def9$ 9  
section #ajc ( ! ,high] ,education ,act 
( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc771         
in/itution ( high] education accr$it+   
ag5cies or associations1 #b- & #d-ye>   
in/itutions ( high] education t aw>d a  
degree 9 e>ly *ildhood education1 & o!r 
organizations or ag5cies ) exp]tise 9   
e>ly *ildhood educator prep>ation t     
provide ! =mal education & tra9+        
necess>y to-- 7i7 enc\rage ! e/abli%m5t 
or expansion ( cr$it-be>+ opportunities 
t recognize prior le>n+ & exp]tise2     
7ii7 make high] education 9 e>ly        
*ildhood education m accessible = work+ 
adult le>n]s by (f]+ po/second>y        
education c\rses at accessible times &  

locations & provid+ support to adult    
le>n]s1 especially adult le>n]s :o are  
l[-income individuals or dual language  
le>n]s2  7iii7 develop articulation     
agreem5ts betwe5 #b- & #d-ye> public &  
private in/itutions ( high] education2 &
  7iv7 exp& ! numb] ( degree programs 9 
e>ly *ildhood education t meet          
nationally recogniz$ /&>ds = !          
prep>ation ( e>ly *ildhood educators4   
7#b7 ,a description ( h[ ! ,/ate w--    
7,a7 adopt pr(essional /&>ds &          
compet5cies = e>ly *ildhood educators   
bas$ on nationally recogniz$ /&>ds =    
pr(essional prep>ation ( e>ly *ildhood  
educators2  7,b7 develop c>e] pa?ways & 
l9k opportunities to c>e] pa?ways = e>ly
 *ildhood educators1 t[>d cont9u\s &    
increm5tal improvem5t ( ! e>ly *ildhood 
educator work=ce2  7,c7 t>get funds to !
 highe/ ne$ areas1 :i* %all be det]m9$  
bas$ on-- 7i7 ! level ( access to       
high-quality1 af=dable e>ly *ildhood c>e
 & education programs2  7ii7 ! p]c5tage 
( *ildr5 liv+ 9 pov]ty2 &  7iii7 !      

p]c5tage ( e>ly *ildhood educators )    
degrees & o!r cr$5tials 9 e>ly *ildhood 
education2  7,d7 engage rural           
communities 9 p>ticipat+ 9 e>ly *ildhood
 educator work=ce improvem5t activities 
& h[ ! ,/ate w provide te*nical         
assi/ance 9 rural communities to address
 unique b>ri]s to ! implem5tation ( e>ly
 *ildhood educator work=ce programs2 &  
7,e7 e/abli% or enhance comp5sation &   
ret5tion initiatives t rew>d & help     
reta9 e>ly *ildhood educators :o a*ieve 
a degree 9 e>ly *ildhood education to "w
 9 a non-s*ool e>ly *ildhood education  
program1 & to ! ext5t feasible1 h p>ity 
( comp5sation ) public s*ool elem5t>y   
tea*]s 9 ! same geographic area4  #f4   
,/ate use ( funds  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,a ,/ate
 t receives a grant "u ?is ,act %all    
ensure t grant funds w be us$ to support
 s]vices = e>ly *ildhood educators &    
e>ly *ildhood c>e & education programs  
across all e>ly *ildhood age gr\ps1 su* 
z infants1 toddl]s1 & pres*ool]s4  7b7  
,res]vation ( funds ,a ,/ate t receives 

a grant "u ?is ,act %all use n m ?an #e 
p]c5t ( ! grant funds = ! adm9i/ration &
 provision ( te*nical assi/ance ne$$ to 
c>ry out ! initiatives & activities     
describ$ 9 subsections 7c71 7d71 & 7e71 
collectively4  7c7 ,requir$ activities  
7#a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,a ,/ate t receives a    
grant "u ?is ,act %all use grant funds  
to c>ry out ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,provid+     
s*ol>%ips = tuition1 fees & mat]ials1 & 
support1 includ+ college c\nsel+1 paid  
sub/itutes1 & release "t1 to e>ly       
*ildhood educators or individuals :o are
 prep>+ to be e>ly *ildhood educators to
 enable su* individuals to e>n-- 7i7 a  
*ild developm5t associate cr$5tial2 or  
7ii7 an associate or baccalaureate      
degree 9 e>ly *ildhood education1 or a  
closely relat$ field 7z det]m9$ by !    
,secret>y74  7,b7 ,9 a ,/ate ) a quality
 rat+ & improvem5t sy/em1 enhanc+ &     
exp&+ coa*+1 m5tor+1 & o!r pr(essional  
developm5t to help e>ly *ildhood c>e &  
education programs improve at lea/ #a   
level on ! ,/ate's quality rat+ &       

improvem5t sy/em4  7,c7 ,provid+ ongo+  
pr(essional developm5t opportunities =  
e>ly *ildhood educators t relate to--   
7i7 ! specializ$ k & skills ( e>ly      
*ildhood educators = work+ ) diff]5t    
ages & levels ( developm5t ( *ildr5     
7includ+ infants1 toddl]s1 &            
pres*ool]s72  7ii7 ! ,/ate's e>ly le>n+ 
guidel9es2  7iii7 high-quality          
tea*]-*ild int]actions2  7iv7 cultural  
compet5ce = work+ ) a div]sity ( *ildr5 
& families2  7v7 dual language le>n]s2  
7vi7 *ildr5 ) disabilities1 z describ$ 9
 p>ts ,b & ,c ( ! ,individuals )        
,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj      
,u4,s4,c4 #adaa et seq4 & #adca et      
seq472 &  7vii7 engag+ & p>tn]+ ) p>5ts 
& families4  7,d7 ,enc\rag+ cross-sector
 tra9+ opportunities = tea*]s & /aff    
work+ 9 ,head ,/>t1 ,e>ly ,head ,/>t1   
*ild c>e1 e>ly int]v5tion programs1     
infant & e>ly *ildhood m5tal heal?      
programs1 home visit+ programs1 &       
,/ate-fund$ prek9d]g>t5 & pres*ool      
programs t receive funds "u title ,i ( !

 ,elem5t>y & ,second>y ,education ,act (
 #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcja et seq471   
:]e applicable4  7,e7 ,exp&+ ! numb] (  
e>ly *ildhood educators :o are tra9$ to 
"w ) infants & toddl]s4  7#b7 ,priority 
,9 us+ grant funds receiv$ "u ?is ,act1 
a ,/ate %all give priority to us+ su*   
funds to c>ry out ! activities describ$ 
"u subp>agraph 7,a7 ( p>agraph 7#a74    
7d7 ,p]missible uses ( funds ,a ,/ate t 
receives a grant "u ?is ,act may use    
grant funds to-- 7#a7 support directors 
( e>ly *ildhood c>e & education programs
 9 ! areas ( program managem5t &        
lead]%ip1 adult le>n+ to support /aff   
developm5t1 & *ild developm5t2 &  7#b7  
exp& ! numb] ( e>ly *ildhood educators  
:o h exp]i5ce 9 provid+ pr(essional     
developm5t1 coa*+1 m5tor+1 or           
consultation to e>ly *ildhood educators 
ab\t work+ ) infants1 toddl]s1 & _!     
families4  7e7 ,reports ,a ,/ate t      
receives a grant "u ?is ,act %all submit
 an annual report to ! ,secret>ies at   
su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su*      

in=mation z ! ,secret>ies may require1  
includ+1 at a m9imum1 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,9 
! case ( a ,/ate t has a quality rat+ & 
improvem5t sy/em1 any evid5ce ( an      
increase 9 ! numb] ( e>ly *ildhood c>e &
 education programs p>ticipat+ 9 !      
,/ate's quality rat+ & improvem5t sy/em1
 t-- 7,a7 h improv$ at lea/ #a level on 
! ,/ate's quality rat+ & improvem5t     
sy/em2 &  7,b7 receiv$ coa*+1 m5tor+1   
s*ol>%ips = po/second>y education1 or   
o!r te*nical assi/ance relat$ to        
pr(essional k & skills to improve       
quality z describ$ "u subsection        
7c77#a74  7#b7 ,! numb] ( s*ol>%ips     
provid$ by ! ,/ate1 z describ$ "u       
subsection 7c77#a77;,a71 disaggregat$   
by-- 7,a7 :e!r ! s*ol>%ips support !    
pursuit (-- 7i7 a *ild developm5t       
associate cr$5tial2  7ii7 an associate  
degree 9 e>ly *ildhood education1 or a  
closely relat$ field 7z det]m9$ by !    
,secret>y72 or  7iii7 a baccalaureate   
degree 9 e>ly *ildhood education1 or a  
closely relat$ field 7z det]m9$ by !    

,secret>y72  7,b7 ! race1 g5d]1 annual  
income1 & native language ( ! individual
 receiv+ su* s*ol>%ip2  7,c7 9 ! case ( 
a s*ol>%ip recipi5t :o is1 at ! "t !    
s*ol>%ip is aw>d$1 work+ z an e>ly      
*ildhood educator-- 7i7 ! age ( ! *ildr5
 ) :om ! e>ly *ildhood educator works2  
7ii7 ! type ( e>ly *ildhood c>e &       
education program sett+ 9 :i* ! e>ly    
*ildhood educator works1 & ! p]c5tage ( 
*ildr5 9 su* program sett+ :o are-- 7,i7
 eligible = ,e>ly ,head ,/>t or ,head   
,/>t2 or  7,,ii7 receiv+ *ild c>e       
s]vices = :i* f9ancial assi/ance is     
provid$ 9 accordance ) ! ,*ild ,c>e &   
,developm5t ,block ,grant ( #aiij 7#db  
,u4,s4,c4 #iheh et seq472 &  7iii7 !    
numb] ( ye>s t ! e>ly *ildhood educator 
has work$ 9 ! field ( e>ly *ildhood     
education prior to receiv+ su* s*ol>%ip2
 &  7,d7 ! numb] ( s*ol>%ip recipi5ts :o
 are work+ 9 ! field ( e>ly *ildhood    
education #b ye>s aft] receiv+ a        
cr$5tial or degree describ$ 9 subsection
 7c77#a77;,a71 :e!r su* recipi5t is--   

7i7 work+ 9 ! same e>ly *ildhood c>e &  
education program2  7ii7 9 a diff]5t    
e>ly *ildhood c>e & education program2  
or  7iii7 9 ! same role or 9 a diff]5t  
role )9 ! field ( e>ly *ildhood         
education4  7#c7 ,data describ+ !       
pr(essional developm5t activities (f]$  
to e>ly *ildhood educators1 includ+     
in=mation ab\t su* activities relat+ to 
! categories describ$ 9 clauses 7i7     
?r\gh 7vii7 ( subsection 7c77#a77;,c71 z
 appropriate4  7#d7 ,data describ+ !    
cross-sector tra9+ opportunities        
provid$1 z describ$ 9 subsection        
7c77#a77;,d71 includ+-- 7,a7 ! prim>y   
role ( pr(essionals :o p>ticipat$ 9 a   
cross-sector tra9+2  7,b7 ! prim>y sett+
 9 :i* su* pr(essionals "w2  7,c7 !     
topic ( ! tra9+2 &  7,d7 ! s\rces (     
fund+ = ! tra9+4  7#e7 ,if applicable1  
evid5ce ( an increase 9 ! numb] ( e>ly  
*ildhood educators work+ )-- 7,a7       
infants & toddl]s2  7,b7 *ildr5 )       
developm5tal delays or disabilities2 &  
7,c7 dual language le>n]s4  7#f7 ,data  

describ+ any increase 9 e>ly *ildhood   
c>e & education programs 9 ! ,/ate4  #g4
 ,mat*+ funds requirem5t  7a7 ,am\nt (  
mat*+ funds ,a ,/ate t receives a grant 
"u ?is ,act %all contribute to !        
activities assi/$ "u su* grant by       
provid+ mat*+ funds f non-,f$]al s\rces 
9 an am\nt z foll[s3 7#a7 ,= ! fir/ ye> 
( ! grant aw>d1 an am\nt equal to n less
 ?an #bj p]c5t ( ! am\nt ( ! grant4     
7#b7 ,= ! second ye> ( ! grant aw>d1 an 
am\nt equal to n less ?an #cj p]c5t ( ! 
am\nt ( ! grant4  7#c7 ,= ! ?ird ye> ( !
 grant aw>d1 an am\nt equal to n less   
?an #dj p]c5t ( ! am\nt ( ! grant4  7#d7
 ,= ! f\r? & fif? ye>s ( ! grant aw>d1  
an am\nt equal to n less ?an #ej p]c5t (
 ! am\nt ( ! grant4  7b7 ,mat*+ funds   
requirem5t ,! mat*+ funds requirem5t "u 
subsection 7a7 may be met by            
contributions t are-- 7#a7 9 ca% or 9   
k9d2 &  7#b7 f any private s\rce or     
,/ate or local funds4  #h4 ,supplem5t & 
n supplant ,grant funds provid$ "u ?is  
,act %all supplem5t1 & n supplant1 o!r  

,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local funds t are      
available = e>ly *ildhood work=ce       
improvem5t programs4 ,/ates receiv+     
grant funds "u ?is ,act may provide     
additional funds1 o!r ?an funds receiv$ 
"u ?is ,act1 to enhance ! e>ly *ildhood 
provid] quality initiatives & activities
 t are support$ by su* grant funds4  #i4
 ,ma9t5ance ( ef=t ,a ,/ate t receives  
funds "u ?is ,act = a fiscal ye> %all   
ma9ta9 ! fiscal ef=t provid$ by ! ,/ate 
= ! activities support$ by ! funds "u   
?is ,act at a level equal to or great]  
?an ! level ( su* fiscal ef=t = ! prec$+
 fiscal ye>4  #aj4 ,int]ag5cy agreem5t  
,! ,secret>y ( ,education & ! ,secret>y 
( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices %all jo9tly  
develop policies =1 & adm9i/] activities
 "u1 ?is ,act 9 accordance ) su* t]ms z 
! ,secret>ies %all set =? 9 an int]ag5cy
 agreem5t4 ,su* int]ag5cy agreem5t1 at a
 m9imum1 %all include a description ( ! 
respective roles & responsibilities ( ! 
,secret>ies 9 c>ry+ out ?is ,act4  #aa4 
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are 

au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry out  
?is ,act su* sums z may be necess>y =   
fiscal ye>s #bjad ?r\gh #bjai4