FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 5715

C 149 L 12

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Requiring adoption of core competencies for early care and education professionals and child and youth development professionals.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe, Litzow, Harper and Kline).

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services

House Committee on Education Appropriations & Oversight

Background: In 2009 the Legislature directed the Professional Development Consortium (PDC) to develop recommendations for a statewide system of preparation and professional development for the early learning workforce. The December 2010 report provides recommendations to build policy support, build organizational capacity, and advance professional development of staff in early learning settings. One of the recommendations is to adopt the Washington State Core Competencies for Early Care and Education, which addresses caregivers and teachers working with children from birth to age eight.

In 2007 the Legislature directed the Department of Early Learning (DEL) to design and implement a voluntary quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). Seeds to Success, Washington's QRIS model, is designed to support licensed child care providers in improving the quality of child care they offer children and families. DEL and Thrive by Five Washington are testing the system in five communities around the state

In 1985 Washington created the state-funded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), a comprehensive whole child, family-focused, preschool program designed to help low-income and at-risk children and their families succeed in school and life. In 2010 there were 8053 ECEAP slots funded at $6,662 per child. DEL administers ECEAP, and directly contracts with service providers.

Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) provides services to children from birth to age three who have disabilities and/or developmental delays. Eligible infants and toddlers and their families are entitled to individualized, quality early intervention services in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), part C. ESIT is a program within DEL.

Summary: By December 31, 2012, DEL must adopt core competencies for early care and education professionals and child and youth development professionals and develop an implementation plan. DEL must incorporate the core competencies into all appropriate professional development opportunities including, but not limited to, QRIS, ECEAP, child care licensing, and ESIT. The purpose of the core competencies is to serve as a foundation for what early care and education professionals and child and youth development professionals need to know and do to provide quality care for children. The core competencies must be reviewed and updated every five years.

The Legislature finds that adopting statewide core competencies for early care, education, and child and youth development professionals is important because the competencies also recognize existing standards met by the national nonprofit agencies providing after school services as relevant and sufficient.

Votes on Final Passage: