,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #deig ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bj1 #bjbf,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,heinrich1 ,mr4 ,lujn1 ,mr4 ,schiff1 and ,mr4 ,wyden7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,education1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 to award competitive grants to eligible partnerships to establish1 expand1 or support career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,early ,childhood ,workforce ,advancement ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,grant program for career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education 7a7 ,grant program authorized ,the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible partnerships for the purpose of establishing1 supporting1 or expanding career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education4 7b7 ,application ,to be considered for a grant under this section1 an eligible partnership shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7#a7 a description of how the eligible partnership will use such grant to establish1 support1 or expand a career and technical education program of study in early childhood education2 7#b7 a description of the roles and responsibilities of each partner of the eligible partnership2 7#c7 a description of how such funds will be allocated for necessary expenses for the career and technical education program of study described in paragraph 7#a71 including the use of additional funding provided by ,state1 local1 or private entities1 and plans to maintain and sustain the program2 7#d7 a description of how the grant will directly benefit students1 including special populations1 served by the eligible partnership2 7#e7 a description of how such career and technical education program of study will be coordinated with the activities carried out under section #abd or #ace of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdd2 #bcee72 7#f7 a description of how the program reflects the needs of regional1 ,state1 or local employers1 as demonstrated by the comprehensive local needs assessment under section #acd7;c7 of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bced7;c772 7#g7 a description of how the program will benefit the child care system and early childhood education workforce2 7#h7 an assurance that the eligible partnership will-- 7,a7 provide information to the ,secretary1 as requested1 for evaluations that the ,secretary may carry out2 and 7,b7 make data available to third parties for validation1 in accordance with applicable data privacy laws1 including section #ddd of the ,general ,education ,provisions ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abcb;g1 commonly known as the ,family ,educational ,rights and ,privacy ,act of #aigd72 7#i7 a description of how the program will include education and training opportunities focused on infant and toddler development1 including the developmental needs of infants or toddlers with a disability 7as defined in section #fcb of the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adcb772 and 7#aj7 a description1 if applicable1 about how the program will respond to the needs or goals identified by the applicable ,state in the statewide needs assessment or statewide strategic plan developed1 updated1 or implemented for purposes of a preschool development grant under section #ibab of the ,every ,student ,succeeds ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihca note74 7c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall-- 7#a7 ensure an equitable national geographic distribution of the grants2 7#b7 award grants to applicants that propose to serve communities in rural areas and to applicants that propose to serve communities in urban areas2 7#c7 give priority to applicants located in areas with a documented shortage of childcare providers2 7#d7 give priority to applicants that provide child care services for infants and toddlers1 child care services during nontraditional or extended hours1 and inclusive child care services for children with disabilities2 7#e7 give priority to applicants that include an institution of higher education with a program of study in early childhood education or a consortium of such institutions2 and 7#f7 give priority1 if applicable1 to applicants that demonstrate1 in the application submitted under subsection 7b7 for a grant under this section1 that the program to be funded with such grant will respond to the needs or goals identified by the applicable ,state in the statewide needs assessment or statewide strategic plan developed1 updated1 or implemented for purposes of a preschool development grant under section #ibab of the ,every ,student ,succeeds ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihca note74 7d7 ,use of funds ,each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this section shall use such grant to establish1 support1 or expand career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education1 which shall include one or more of the following3 7#a7 ,educational materials and resources1 including classroom instruction1 work-based learning1 support attainment of dual or concurrent enrollment credits1 industry credentials such as a ,child ,development ,associate1 a preapprenticeship1 and an apprenticeship through career and technical student organizations4 7#b7 ,supporting the recruiting1 hiring1 and training of effective educators in early childhood education1 including educators who became certified through ,state and local alternative routes to certification4 7#c7 ,improving career and technical education outcomes of students served by the eligible partnership through activities such as-- 7,a7 supporting the development and enhancement of innovative delivery models for career and technical education-related work-based learning 7including school-based simulated work sites1 mentoring1 apprenticeship programs1 work site visits1 job shadowing1 project-based learning1 and skills-based and paid internships72 and 7,b7 providing academic and nonacademic wrap-around supports and services1 including advising1 tutoring1 test preparation1 child care assistance1 dependent care assistance1 transportation1 and financial assistance 7which may include scholarships or stipends71 during the period in which such students-- 7i7 complete a ,child ,development ,associate credential1 early childhood education associate degree program1 or baccalaureate degree program1 as applicable2 7ii7 access and complete ,state licensure or certification examinations2 or 7iii7 receive opportunities to develop the necessary content knowledge and teaching skills in early childhood education4 7#d7 ,creating or expanding recruitment1 retention1 or professional development activities for career and technical education teachers1 faculty1 school leaders1 administrators1 specialized instructional support personnel1 career guidance and academic counselors1 and paraprofessionals1 which may include-- 7,a7 high-quality teacher mentoring by experienced teachers in early childhood education2 7,b7 providing resources and training to improve instruction for1 and provide appropriate accommodations to1 special populations1 including the unique needs of teaching in rural or urban communities2 7,c7 the integration of coherent and rigorous academic content standards and career and technical education curricula1 including through opportunities for appropriate academic and career and technical education teachers to jointly develop and implement curricula and pedagogical strategies2 7,d7 providing resources or assistance with meeting ,state teacher licensure and credential requirements2 7,e7 implementing initiatives that increase compensation for early childhood educators who attain a ,child ,development ,associate credential1 or an associate or baccalaureate degree in early childhood education2 or 7,f7 training for career guidance and academic counselors at the secondary level to improve awareness of postsecondary education and postsecondary career options in early childhood education1 and improve the ability of such counselors to communicate to students career opportunities and employment trends in early childhood education4 7e7 ,evaluation and annual report ,each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this section shall provide for an independent evaluation of the activities carried out using such grant and submit to the ,secretary an annual report that includes-- 7#a7 a description of how funds received under this section were used2 7#b7 the performance of the career and technical education program of study funded with such grant with respect to1 at a minimum1 the performance indicators described under section #aac of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcbc71 as applicable1 and disaggregated-- 7,a7 by subgroups of students described in section #aaaa7;c77#b77;,b7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;c77#b77;,b772 and 7,b7 by each special population2 and 7#c7 a quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of such program4 7f7 ,grant duration 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 a grant awarded under this section may not exceed a #e-year grant period4 7#b7 ,extension ,the ,secretary may extend the grant period for an eligible partnership for not more than #a additional #b-year period if the eligible partnership demonstrates to the ,secretary that the eligible partnership-- 7,a7 is achieving the program objectives for which the eligible partnership is receiving the grant2 and 7,b7 has improved education outcomes for students participating in the programs funded by such grant1 including special populations4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,perkins terms ,except as otherwise provided1 any term used in this ,act that is defined in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb7 has the meaning given that term in such section4 7#b7 ,early childhood education program ,the term early childhood education program has the meaning given the term in section #ajc of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc74 7#c7 ,eligible child care provider ,the term eligible child care provider has the meaning given such term in section #feh,p7#f77;,a7 of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn7#f77;,a774 7#d7 ,eligible recipient ,the term eligible recipient has the meaning given the term in section #c7ba77;,a7 of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb7ba77;,a774 7#e7 ,eligible partnership ,the term eligible partnership means a partnership between or among-- 7,a7 an eligible recipient2 and 7,b7 one or more of the following3 7i7 ,an institution of higher education with a program of study in early childhood education or a consortium of such institutions4 7ii7 ,an eligible child care provider4 7iii7 ,a community stakeholder relevant to a career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education to be funded under this section1 including a labor organization1 a local or regional business or industry1 or a local workforce development board4 7iv7 ,a ,child ,care ,resource and ,referral ,organization 7as described in section #feh;,e7c77#c77;,b77iii7 of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheh;c7c77#c77;,b77iii7774 7v7 ,a staffed family child care network4 7vi7 ,a ,head ,start program 7including an ,early ,head ,start program7 carried out under the ,head ,start ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihca et seq474 7vii7 ,an early intervention service provider4 7#f7 ,institution of higher education ,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 7#g7 ,staffed family child care network ,the term staffed family child care network means a nonprofit organization-- 7,a7 that may be a component of a ,state or local child care resource and referral organization2 7,b7 that has at least #a paid staff member2 and 7,c7 that offers evidence-based professional development1 quality improvement support1 business support1 and technical assistance1 including on achieving licensure as an eligible child care provider1 to family child care providers4