Background:

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is responsible for creating a set of core competencies for early care and education professionals and must review and update these competencies every five years. The DEL operates the Managed Education and Registry Information Tool (MERIT), an online portal for early care and education professionals to track training and education experience. State-approved training costs for professionals employed in facilities licensed or certified by the DEL may be reimbursed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) provides early education for 3-5 year-olds who are not eligible for kindergarten and whose family income is at or below 110 percent of the federal poverty level. The available enrollment slots for children in ECEAP are currently based on state budget appropriations. Priority for enrollment is given to children from certain populations such as families with the lowest income, children in foster care, and to eligible children from families with multiple needs. Beginning in the 2020-21 academic year ECEAP will be an entitlement for eligible children.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) coordinates and directs the state system of public community and technical colleges. Students can earn certificates in Early Childhood Education (ECE) at 29 community colleges in the State of Washington.

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTB) advises the Governor and Legislature on workforce development policy. The WTB develops and regularly updates a state comprehensive plan for workforce training and education. Local workforce development councils develop local plans for the workforce development system and work with the WTB on implementation and funding strategies.

Summary of Bill:

Training in child care business management.

The DEL must contract with a nonprofit entity to develop a community-based training module to train child care providers in managing and sustaining a child care business. The nonprofit entity must provide quality improvement services to participants in the early achievers program. The training must be piloted in at least four communities selected by the DEL, be provided by approved trainers listed in the MERIT, and include direct participant coaching. The DEL must offer reimbursement for training participants within available funds.

The DEL must work with the SBCTC and the contracted nonprofit entity to review the pilot to ensure there is not a duplication of services and to develop recommendations regarding delivery of future trainings. Upon completion of the first cohort of trainees in the pilot and no later than July 1, 2019, the DEL must offer the training module statewide. The training module must be translated into languages other than English, particularly Spanish and Somali.

The DEL must collaborate with the SBCTC to align and integrate all or parts of the training module with course outcomes for ECE classes offered by community and technical colleges. The SBCTC must work with community and technical college ECE programs to incorporate outcomes related to managing and sustaining a child care business by the fall quarter of 2020.

ECEAP Training for Providers.

The DEL must contract with a nonprofit entity to develop a community-based training module for providers interested in serving children in ECEAP. The module must prepare trainees to administer all aspects of the ECEAP program and be offered statewide, with the goal of training enough providers to serve all ECEAP eligible children by 2020. The module must include a pilot program for shared services in at least one community. Share services can include workforce and professional development, back office functions, and community resources. The training module must be translated into languages other than English, particularly Spanish and Somali.

Child Care Workforce and Business Development Work Group.

The Child Care Workforce and Business Development Work Group (Work Group) is created through June 30, 2019. The Work Group consists of up to 27 members selected by the DEL in consultation with advocates and stakeholders. Work Group members must represent various stakeholder organizations and experts from the field. The DEL must convene the Work Group and provide staff support.

The Work Group must develop recommendations for the Legislature and the early childhood education industry to address issues of poverty wages, high turnover, and the loss of qualified early learning workforce members. Recommendations must address specified criteria including the career and wage ladder, tax incentives, facility acquisition, and streamlining regulations among other provisions. The Work Group must submit an interim progress report to the Legislature by December 1, 2017 and submit a final report by June 30, 2018 containing recommendations and implementation plan.

Early Learning Workforce.

At the next update of the state comprehensive workforce training plan, the (WTB) must assess the need for early learning providers to receive support and training in the management of a child care business. The WTB must ensure that local workforce development councils have plans that emphasize business training for early learning providers. Local workforce councils may use the child care business management and ECEAP training modules developed by the nonprofit entity contracted by the DEL.