,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ebdh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #e1 #bjbf,mr4 ,lujn 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,heinrich1 and ,mr4 ,kim7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 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 ,educator ,professional ,improvement ,act of #bjbf4 #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 ,early childhood education program ,the term early childhood education program has the meaning given the term in section #hab of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aafa;i-#a74 7#b7 ,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 #d4 ,program authorized 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 is authorized to award grants to ,states to implement and administer the activities described in section #f4 7b7 ,duration 7#a7 ,in general ,each grant awarded under this ,act shall be for a period of #e years1 with funding provided annually subject to the availability of appropriations and continued compliance with the terms of the grant4 7#b7 ,renewal ,a ,state awarded a grant under this ,act may apply for renewal of the grant at the end of the #e-year grant period4 ,the ,secretary may renew the grant if the ,state demonstrates compliance with the requirements of this ,act and satisfactory program outcomes4 #e4 ,applications 7a7 ,in general ,each ,state desiring a grant under this ,act shall submit an application to the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services-- 7#a7 that includes the information described in subsection 7b72 and 7#b7 at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such additional information as the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 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 ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihcg;b71 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 child care resource and referral organizations1 staffed family child care networks1 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 comprehensive early childhood professional development system provides-- 7,a7 an oversight structure for such system2 7,b7 early childhood educator standards and competencies2 7,c7 a career and wage lattice2 7,d7 coordination with ,state higher education agencies1 higher education accrediting bodies1 and accredited #b- and #d-year institutions of higher education2 7,e7 articulation agreements between #b- and #d-year institutions of higher education and credit-bearing opportunities and articulation agreements that recognize prior learning1 early childhood educator credentials1 and expertise in early childhood education and development2 7,f7 accessible higher education for working students through offering of college courses at accessible time and locations1 with particular attention to rural areas2 7,g7 support to students who are dual language learners1 or come from low-income or minority communities2 7,h7 training and expertise that reflects linguistically and culturally appropriate education and practices2 7,i7 use of workforce data to assess ,state and local workforce needs2 and 7,j7 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 early childhood educators 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 early childhood educators 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 early childhood educators 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 early childhood educators 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 #bjbg through #bjcb4