Bill Text: CT HB05557 | 2016 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Requiring The Office Of Early Childhood To Develop A Proposed Early Childhood Educator Compensation Schedule.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-04-14 - Senate Calendar Number 379 [HB05557 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2016-HB05557-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 5557 | ||
February Session, 2016 |
LCO No. 2550 | ||
*02550_______ED_* | |||
Referred to Committee on EDUCATION |
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Introduced by: |
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(ED) |
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AN ACT CONCERNING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Office of Early Childhood shall establish an early childhood educator compensation schedule for employees of early childhood education programs accepting state funds for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child care program or school readiness program and who meet the staff qualifications requirement described in section 10-16p of the general statutes. The office shall distribute such compensation schedule to each such early childhood education program and post such compensation schedule on the office's Internet web site. The office may update and revise, after notice and opportunity for public comment, the early childhood educator compensation schedule.
(b) The office shall begin phasing in implementation of the early childhood educator compensation schedule in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, by creating an implementation plan and designating those early childhood education programs that shall pay early childhood educators employed by such provider in accordance with such compensation schedule.
(c) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall consider the following factors in establishing the early childhood educator compensation schedule: (1) Level of education, (2) training in early childhood education or child development, (3) relevant employment experience, including the number of years an individual has been employed in an early childhood education program, (4) compensation levels for certified teachers employed in a preschool program operated by a local or regional board of education or regional educational service center, and (5) cost of living in the state.
(d) In developing the early childhood educator compensation schedule, the office may (1) incorporate the findings and recommendations provided in "A Plan to Assist Early Education State Funded Providers to Degree Attainment and Increased Compensation" created by the office, pursuant to section 4 of public act 15-134, to create a standardized salary scale and incentive package for early childhood educators, (2) utilize state and federal funding, and (3) examine existing programs that address early childhood educator compensation and staff retention through financial incentives, such as bonuses for degree or course completion.
(e) The early childhood educator compensation schedule shall be included in any quality rating and improvement system developed by the office, pursuant to subdivision (15) of subsection (b) of section 10-500 of the general statutes.
(f) The office shall, within available resources, prioritize the phase-in of the early childhood educator compensation schedule in (1) the development of the office's annual budget, (2) reimbursement rates under the child care subsidy program, administered pursuant to section 17b-749 of the general statutes, and (3) any contracts for early childhood education programs to which the office is a party.
(g) Not later than July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the office shall report on the implementation of the early childhood educator compensation schedule and data relating to the recruitment and retention of educators in early childhood education programs to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2016) Each early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child care program or school readiness program is required, as designated by the Office of Early Childhood according to an implementation plan created by the office, to pay, in accordance with the early childhood educator compensation schedule, described in section 1 of this act, early childhood educators who are employed by such program and who meet the staff qualifications requirement, described in section 10-16p of the general statutes, except any such program may pay compensation that exceeds the level set forth in such compensation schedule.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2016 |
New section |
Statement of Purpose:
To establish an early childhood educator compensation schedule for early childhood educators that ensures the retention and recruitment of qualified educators, secures a standard of living that meets such educators' needs, and reflects the true costs associated with quality standards for early childhood care and education programs.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]