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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5465
February Session, 2022
LCO No. 3151
Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
Introduced by:
(ED)
AN ACT INCREASING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR SALARIES
AND EXPANDING CHILD CARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) (a) As used in this section and 1
section 2 of this act: 2
(1) "Compensation schedule" means the early childhood educator 3
compensation schedule developed by the Office of Early Childhood 4
pursuant to section 10-531 of the general statutes, as amended by this 5
act; 6
(2) "Early childhood care and education program" means a child care 7
services provider, early childhood education program or license-exempt 8
early childhood provider; 9
(3) "Child care services provider" means a child care center or a group 10
child care home, as those terms are described in section 19a-77 of the 11
general statutes, as amended by this act; 12
(4) "Early childhood education program" means a private preschool 13 Raised Bill No. 5465
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program, a school readiness program or program pursuant to section 8-14
210 of the general statutes, as amended by this act; 15
(5) "School readiness program" has the same meaning as provided in 16
section 10-16p of the general statutes, as amended by this act; 17
(6) "License-exempt early childhood provider" means any child care 18
services provider or school readiness program that accepts state funds 19
for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program 20
that is not required to be licensed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 21
19a-77 of the general statutes, and is located in a public school building 22
but is not administered by a public school system; 23
(7) "Employee" means a person who is employed by an early 24
childhood care and education program and meets the eligibility criteria 25
described in the compensation schedule and policy developed by the 26
Office of Early Childhood pursuant to subsection (e) of this section; 27
(8) "Base salary" means the annual salary that an employee was paid 28
on December 31, 2021, or, if the position was vacant on December 31, 29
2021, the starting annual salary for such position on said date; 30
(9) "Benefits amount" means seven thousand five hundred dollars; 31
(10) "Individual employee salary enhancement amount" means, for 32
any fiscal year, the sum of (A) the difference between (i) the salary 33
prescribed in the compensation schedule for an employee, and (ii) the 34
amount of such employee's base salary, and (B) the benefits amount; 35
(11) "Salary enhancement amount" means the sum of the total 36
individual employee salary enhancement amounts for all employees of 37
an early childhood care and education program for the fiscal year; and 38
(12) "Family child care home" has the same meaning as provided in 39
section 19a-77 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 40
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 41 Raised Bill No. 5465
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thereafter, the Office of Early Childhood shall administer the early 42
childhood care and education salary enhancement grant program. The 43
office shall annually pay to each early childhood care and education 44
program a salary enhancement grant in the amount of such program's 45
salary enhancement amount. Such programs shall distribute such grant 46
funds to its employees in accordance with the policy developed by the 47
Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to subsection (e) of this 48
section. 49
(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 50
thereafter, the office shall annually pay to each family child care home 51
a salary enhancement grant as follows: (1) Twenty thousand dollars for 52
each licensee of a family child care home, (2) six thousand dollars for 53
each full-time assistant or substitute staff member approved by the 54
Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-87b of the 55
general statutes, and (3) three thousand dollars for each part-time 56
assistant or substitute staff member approved by the commissioner 57
pursuant to section 19a-87b of the general statutes, and employed by the 58
family child care home. The licensee shall distribute such grant funds in 59
accordance with the policy developed by the commissioner pursuant to 60
subsection (e) of this section. 61
(d) Each early childhood care and education program shall register, 62
at such time and in such manner as prescribed by the commissioner, 63
with the Office of Early Childhood to receive a grant under the program. 64
Upon registration, such program shall provide any information 65
required by the office, in accordance with the policy developed by the 66
commissioner pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. 67
(e) Not later than October 1, 2022, the commissioner shall develop a 68
policy for the administration of the early childhood care and education 69
salary enhancement grant program. The policy shall include, but need 70
not be limited to, eligibility criteria for the program, the registration 71
process for the program, the distribution requirements of the grant and 72
any other requirements the commissioner deems necessary. 73 Raised Bill No. 5465
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Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) On and after July 1, 2022, each 74
employee of an early childhood care and education program shall be 75
paid an annual salary as prescribed in the compensation schedule 76
developed pursuant to section 10-531 of the general statutes, as 77
amended by this act, except if an employee's salary is greater than the 78
amount prescribed in such compensation schedule then such employee 79
shall be paid such greater amount. 80
Sec. 3. Section 10-531 of the general statutes is repealed and the 81
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 82
(a) As used in this section: 83
(1) "Early childhood education program" means any child care or 84
school readiness program that accepts state funds for infant, toddler and 85
preschool spaces associated with such program; 86
(2) "Employee" means any person who is employed by an [early 87
childhood education program and meets the applicable staff 88
qualifications requirement, as defined in section 10-16p] early childhood 89
care and education program and meets the eligibility criteria described 90
in the compensation schedule and policy developed by the Office of 91
Early Childhood pursuant to subsection (e) of section 1 of this act; 92
(3) "Compensation" means the salary, wages, benefits and other 93
forms of valuable consideration earned by and provided to an employee 94
in remuneration for services rendered; [and] 95
(4) "Compensation schedule" means a list or lists specifying a series 96
of compensation steps and ranges; [.] 97
(5) "Early childhood care and education program" means a child care 98
services provider or an early childhood education program; 99
(6) "Child care services provider" means a child care center or a group 100
child care home, as those terms are described in section 19a-77, as 101
amended by this act; 102 Raised Bill No. 5465
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(7) "Early childhood education program" means a private preschool 103
program, a school readiness program or program pursuant to section 8-104
210, as amended by this act; and 105
(8) "School readiness program" has the same meaning as provided in 106
section 10-16p, as amended by this act. 107
(b) The Office of Early Childhood shall establish, after notice and 108
opportunity for public comment, a proposed early childhood educator 109
compensation schedule for employees of early childhood education 110
programs. 111
(c) (1) The office shall consider the following factors in developing the 112
proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule: (A) Level 113
of education, (B) training in early childhood education or child 114
development, (C) relevant employment experience, including the 115
number of years an individual has been employed in an early childhood 116
education program, (D) compensation levels for certified teachers 117
employed in a preschool program operated by a local or regional board 118
of education or regional educational service center, and (E) cost of living 119
in the state. 120
(2) In developing the proposed early ch ildhood educator 121
compensation schedule, the office may (A) consider the findings and 122
recommendations provided in "A Plan to Assist Early Education State 123
Funded Providers to Degree Attainment and Increased Compensation" 124
created by the office, pursuant to section 4 of public act 15-134, to create 125
a standardized salary scale and incentive package for early childhood 126
educators, (B) utilize state and federal funding, and (C) examine existing 127
programs that address early childhood educator compensation and staff 128
retention through financial incentives, such as bonuses for degree or 129
course completion. 130
(3) The office shall establish a recommended minimum salary for 131
employees as part of the proposed early childhood educator 132
compensation schedule. 133 Raised Bill No. 5465
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(d) Not later than January 1, 2021, the office shall submit the proposed 134
early childhood educator compensation schedule and a report to the 135
joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance 136
of matters relating to education and appropriations and the budgets of 137
state agencies, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such 138
report shall include: (1) Any recommendations for legislation relating to 139
state-wide implementation of the proposed early childhood educator 140
compensation schedule, (2) an estimate of the cost of implementing the 141
proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule state-wide, 142
(3) an analysis of the effect of the state-wide implementation of the 143
proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule on the 144
number of available preschool seats, and (4) an explanation of how the 145
proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule will be 146
included in any quality rating and improvement system developed by 147
the office, pursuant to subdivision (15) of subsection (b) of section 10-148
500. 149
(e) Not later than January 1, 2023, the office shall amend the 150
compensation schedule to include employees of early childhood care 151
and education programs. 152
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 153
30, 2023, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Office of Higher Education, 154
in collaboration with the Office of Early Childhood, shall, within 155
available appropriations, administer an early childhood educator loan 156
forgiveness grant program to persons who meet the eligibility 157
requirements described in subsection (b) of this section. 158
(b) The program shall provide a student loan forgiveness grant to any 159
person who (1) has been continuously employed by a licensed child care 160
center, group child care home or family child care home, as described in 161
section 19a-77 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for at least 162
four years at the time of application, and (2) holds (A) an associate 163
degree with a concentration in early childhood education from a public 164
institution of higher education in the state that is regionally accredited, 165
provided such associate degree program is approved by (i) the Board of 166 Raised Bill No. 5465
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Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education, and (ii) 167
the Office of Early Childhood, or (B) a bachelor's degree with a 168
concentration in early childhood education from a public institution of 169
higher education in the state that is regionally accredited, provided such 170
bachelor's degree program is approved by (i) the Board of Regents for 171
Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education, and (ii) the Office 172
of Early Childhood. As used in this subsection, "concentration in early 173
childhood education" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-174
16p of the general statutes. 175
(c) Any person who satisfies the eligibility requirements prescribed 176
in subsection (b) of this section shall receive a grant in an amount equal 177
to the remaining balance of such person's federal or state educational 178
loans. 179
(d) Persons may apply to the Office of Higher Education for grants 180
under this section at such time and in such manner as the executive 181
director of the Office of Higher Education prescribes. 182
(e) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this section 183
shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be available for 184
expenditure during the next fiscal year. 185
Sec. 5. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-16q of the 186
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 187
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 188
(b) (1) [For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the per child cost of 189
the Office of Early Childhood school readiness program offered by a 190
school readiness provider shall not exceed eight thousand nine hundred 191
twenty-seven dollars.] For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2021] 2023, 192
and each fiscal year thereafter, the per child cost of the Office of Early 193
Childhood school readiness program offered by a school readiness 194
provider shall not exceed [nine] ten thousand twenty-seven dollars. 195
Sec. 6. Section 10-16p of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 196
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 197 Raised Bill No. 5465
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1, 2022): 198
(a) As used in sections 10-16o to 10-16r, inclusive, as amended by this 199
act, 10-16u, 17b-749a and 17b-749c: 200
(1) "School readiness program" means a nonsectarian program that 201
(A) meets the standards set by the Office of Early Childhood pursuant 202
to subsection (b) of this section and the requirements of section 10-16q, 203
as amended by this act, and (B) provides a developmentally appropriate 204
learning experience of not less than four hundred fifty hours and one 205
hundred eighty days for eligible children, except as provided in 206
subsection (d) of section 10-16q; 207
(2) "Eligible children" means children three and four years of age and 208
children five years of age who are not eligible to enroll in school 209
pursuant to section 10-15c, or who are eligible to enroll in school and 210
will attend a school readiness program pursuant to section 10-16t; 211
(3) "Priority school" means a school in which forty per cent or more 212
of the lunches served are served to students who are eligible for free or 213
reduced price lunches pursuant to federal law and regulations, 214
excluding such a school located in a priority school district pursuant to 215
section 10-266p or in a former priority school district receiving a grant 216
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and, on and after July 1, 2001, 217
excluding such a school in a transitional school district receiving a grant 218
pursuant to section 10-16u; 219
(4) "Severe need school" means a school in a priority school district 220
pursuant to section 10-266p or in a former priority school district in 221
which forty per cent or more of the lunches served are served to students 222
who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches; 223
(5) "Accredited" means accredited by the National Association for the 224
Education of Young Children, National Association for Family Child 225
Care, a Head Start on-site program review instrument or a successor 226
instrument pursuant to federal regulations, or otherwise meeting such 227
criteria as may be established by the commissioner, unless the context 228 Raised Bill No. 5465
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otherwise requires; 229
(6) "Year-round" means fifty weeks per year, except as provided in 230
subsection (d) of section 10-16q; 231
(7) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Early Childhood; 232
(8) "Office" means the Office of Early Childhood; 233
(9) "Seeking accreditation" means a school readiness program seeking 234
accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young 235
Children, National Association for Family Child Care or a Head Start 236
on-site program review instrument or successor instrument pursuant to 237
federal regulations, or attempting to meet criteria as may be established 238
by the commissioner; and 239
(10) "Concentration in early childhood education" means a program 240
of study in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, 241
early childhood education, child study, child development or human 242
growth and development. 243
(b) (1) The office shall be the lead agency for school readiness. For 244
purposes of this section and section 10-16u, school readiness program 245
providers eligible for funding from the office shall include local and 246
regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, 247
family resource centers and providers of child care centers, group child 248
care homes and family child care homes, as described in section 19a-77, 249
as amended by this act, Head Start programs, preschool programs and 250
other programs that meet any standards established by the 251
commissioner. The office shall establish standards for school readiness 252
programs. The standards may include, but need not be limited to, 253
guidelines for staff-child interactions, curriculum content, including 254
preliteracy development, lesson plans, parental involvement, staff 255
qualifications and training, transition to school and administration. The 256
office shall develop age-appropriate developmental skills and goals for 257
children attending such programs. The commissioner, in consultation 258
with the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, 259 Raised Bill No. 5465
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the Commissioners of Education and Social Services and other 260
appropriate entities, shall develop a professional development program 261
for the staff of school readiness programs. 262
(2) For purposes of this section: 263
(A) Prior to July 1, 2022, "staff qualifications" means that for each 264
early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, 265
toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child care 266
program or school readiness program, there is in each classroom an 267
individual who has at least the following: (i) A childhood development 268
associate credential or an equivalent credential issued by an 269
organization approved by the commissioner and twelve credits or more 270
in early childhood education or child development, as determined by 271
the commissioner or the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and 272
Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from an 273
institution of higher education (I) accredited by the Board of Regents for 274
Higher Education or Office of Higher Education, and (II) regionally 275
accredited; (ii) an associate degree with twelve credits or more in early 276
childhood education or child development, as determined by the 277
commissioner or the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and 278
Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from such an 279
institution; (iii) a four-year degree with twelve credits or more in early 280
childhood education or child development, as determined by the 281
commissioner or the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and 282
Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from such an 283
institution; (iv) certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an 284
endorsement in early childhood education or special education; (v) an 285
associate degree with a concentration in early childhood education from 286
an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited; or (vi) a 287
bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education 288
from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited; 289
(B) From July 1, 2022, until June 30, 2025, "staff qualifications" means 290
that for each early childhood education program accepting state funds 291
for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's 292 Raised Bill No. 5465
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child care program or school readiness program, (i) at least fifty per cent 293
of those individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of 294
children (I) hold certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an 295
endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special 296
education, (II) have been issued an early childhood teacher credential, 297
pursuant to section 10-520b, (III) hold at least an associate degree with a 298
concentration in early childhood education from an institution of higher 299
education that is regionally accredited, or (IV) satisfy the requirements 300
of subdivision (3), (4) or (5) of this subsection, and (ii) such remaining 301
individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children 302
hold a childhood development associate credential or an equivalent 303
credential issued by an organization approved by the commissioner and 304
twelve credits or more in early childhood education or child 305
development, as determined by the commissioner or the president of 306
the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, after consultation with 307
the commissioner, from an institution of higher education (I) accredited 308
by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher 309
Education, and (II) regionally accredited; 310
(C) From July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2029, "staff qualifications" means 311
that for each early childhood education program accepting state funds 312
for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's 313
child care program or school readiness program, (i) at least fifty per cent 314
of those individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of 315
children (I) hold certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an 316
endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special 317
education, (II) have been issued an early childhood teacher credential, 318
pursuant to subdivision (2) of section 10-520b, (III) hold at least a 319
bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education 320
from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited, or 321
(IV) satisfy the requirements of subdivision (3), (4) or (5) of this 322
subsection, and (ii) such remaining individuals with the primary 323
responsibility for a classroom of children (I) hold an associate degree 324
with a concentration in early childhood education from an institution of 325
higher education that is regionally accredited, or (II) have been issued 326 Raised Bill No. 5465
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an early childhood teacher credential, pursuant to subdivision (1) of 327
section 10-520b; and 328
(D) On and after July 1, 2029, "staff qualifications" means that for each 329
early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, 330
toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child care 331
program or school readiness program, one hundred per cent of those 332
individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children 333
(i) hold certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in 334
early childhood education or early childhood special education, (ii) have 335
been issued an early childhood teacher credential, pursuant to 336
subdivision (2) of section 10-520b, (iii) hold at least a bachelor's degree 337
with a concentration in early childhood education from an institution of 338
higher education that is regionally accredited, or (iv) satisfy the 339
requirements of subdivision (3), (4) or (5) of this subsection. 340
(3) Any individual with a bachelor's degree in early childhood 341
education or child development or a bachelor's degree and twelve 342
credits or more in early childhood education or child development, 343
who, on or before June 30, 2015, is employed by an early childhood 344
education program that accepts state funds for infant, toddler and 345
preschool spaces associated with such program's child care program or 346
school readiness program shall be considered to meet the staff 347
qualifications required under subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of 348
subdivision (2) of this subsection. No such early childhood education 349
program shall terminate any such individual from employment for 350
purposes of meeting the staff qualification requirements set forth in 351
subparagraph (B), (C) or (D) of subdivision (2) of this subsection. 352
(4) Any individual with an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in 353
early childhood education or child development or an associate degree 354
or a bachelor's degree and twelve credits or more in early childhood 355
education or child development from an institution of higher education 356
that is regionally accredited, other than an associate degree or a 357
bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education, 358
may submit documentation concerning such degree for review and 359 Raised Bill No. 5465
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assessment by the office as to whether such degree has a sufficient 360
concentration in early childhood education so as to satisfy the 361
requirements set forth in subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of 362
subdivision (2) of this subsection. 363
(5) Any individual with an associate degree with twelve credits or 364
more in early childhood education or child development, as determined 365
by the commissioner or the president of the Connecticut State Colleges 366
and Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from an 367
institution of higher education (A) accredited by the Board of Regents 368
for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education, and (B) regionally 369
accredited, who has been employed in the same early childhood 370
education program that accepts state funds for infant, toddler and 371
preschool spaces associated with such program's child care program or 372
school readiness program since 1995 shall be considered to meet the staff 373
qualifications required under subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of 374
subdivision (2) of this subsection until June 30, 2025. On and after July 375
1, 2025, such individual shall hold a childhood development associate 376
credential or an equivalent credential, described in subparagraph (A) of 377
subdivision (2) of this subsection, or otherwise meet the staff 378
qualifications required under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subdivision 379
(2) of this subsection. Any such individual who terminates his or her 380
employment with such early childhood education program on or before 381
June 30, 2025, and accepts a position at another early childhood 382
education program accepting state funds for spaces associated with 383
such program's child care program or school readiness program shall 384
submit documentation of such individual's progress toward meeting 385
the staff qualification requirements set forth in subparagraph (B) to (D), 386
inclusive, of subdivision (2) of this subsection in a manner determined 387
by the office. 388
(c) The commissioner shall establish a grant program to provide 389
spaces in accredited school readiness programs located in priority 390
school districts, as described in section 10-266p, or in former priority 391
school districts for eligible children. The state, acting by and in the 392 Raised Bill No. 5465
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discretion of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, in consultation with 393
a town or regional school readiness council, may enter into a contract 394
with a municipality, local or regional board of education, regional 395
educational service center, family resource center, provider of a child 396
care center, group child care home or family child care home, as 397
described in section 19a-77, as amended by this act, Head Start program, 398
preschool program or other program that meets such standards 399
established by the commissioner, to provide, within available 400
appropriations, state financial assistance. Eligibility shall be determined 401
for a five-year period based on an applicant's designation as a priority 402
school district for the initial year of application, except that if a school 403
district that receives a grant pursuant to this subsection is no longer 404
designated as a priority school district at the end of such five-year 405
period, such former priority school district shall continue to be eligible 406
to receive a grant pursuant to this subsection. Grant awards shall be 407
made annually contingent upon available funding and a satisfactory 408
annual evaluation. The chief elected official of such town and the 409
superintendent of schools for such priority school district or former 410
priority school district shall submit a plan for the expenditure of grant 411
funds and responses to the local request for proposal process to the 412
commissioner. The commissioner shall review and approve such plans. 413
The plan shall: (1) Be developed in consultation with the local or 414
regional school readiness council established pursuant to section 10-16r, 415
as amended by this act; (2) be based on a needs and resource assessment; 416
(3) provide for the issuance of requests for proposals for providers of 417
accredited school readiness programs, provided, after the initial 418
requests for proposals, facilities that have been approved to operate a 419
child care program financed through the Connecticut Health and 420
Education Facilities Authority and have received a commitment for debt 421
service from the Department of Social Services, pursuant to section 17b-422
749i, on or before June 30, 2014, and on or after July 1, 2014, from the 423
office, are exempt from the requirement for issuance of annual requests 424
for proposals; and (4) identify the need for funding pursuant to section 425
17b-749a in order to extend the hours and days of operation of school 426
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attending such programs. 428
(d) (1) The commissioner shall establish a competitive grant program 429
to provide spaces in accredited school readiness programs or school 430
readiness programs seeking accreditation located in (A) an area served 431
by a priority school or a former priority school, (B) a town ranked one 432
to fifty when all towns are ranked in ascending order according to town 433
wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, whose school 434
district is not a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p, (C) a 435
town formerly a town described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 436
as provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, or (D) a town 437
designated as an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u, whose 438
school district is not a priority school district pursuant to section 10-439
266p. A town in which a priority school is located, a regional school 440
readiness council, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-16r, as 441
amended by this act, for a region in which such a school is located or a 442
town described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision may apply for 443
such a grant in an amount equal to the number of spaces in an accredited 444
school readiness program or a school readiness program seeking 445
accreditation multiplied by the per child cost set forth in subdivision (1) 446
of subsection (b) of section 10-16q, as amended by this act. Eligibility 447
shall be determined for a three-year period based on an applicant's 448
designation as having a priority school or being a town described in 449
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision for the initial year of application. 450
The state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of Early 451
Childhood, in consultation with a town or regional school readiness 452
council, may enter into a contract with a municipality, local or regional 453
board of education, regional educational service center, family resource 454
center, provider of a child care center, group child care home or family 455
child care home, as described in section 19a-77, as amended by this act, 456
Head Start program, preschool program or other program that meets 457
such standards established by the commissioner, to provide, within 458
available appropriations, state financial assistance. The chief elected 459
official of such town and the superintendent of schools of the school 460
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described in subsection (c) of this section, for the expenditure of such 462
grant funds to the commissioner. In awarding grants pursuant to this 463
subsection, the commissioner shall give preference to applications 464
submitted by regional school readiness councils and may, within 465
available appropriations, provide a grant to such town or regional 466
school readiness council that increases the number of spaces for eligible 467
children who reside in an area or town described in subparagraphs (A) 468
to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision, in an accredited school readiness 469
program or a school readiness program seeking accreditation. 470
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, 471
commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, if a town received 472
a grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and is no longer 473
eligible to receive such a grant, the town may receive a phase-out grant 474
for each of the three fiscal years following the fiscal year such town 475
received its final grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. 476
(B) The amount of such phase-out grants shall be determined as 477
follows: (i) For the first fiscal year following the fiscal year such town 478
received its final grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, in 479
an amount that does not exceed seventy-five per cent of the grant 480
amount such town received for the town or school's final year of 481
eligibility pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection; (ii) for the 482
second fiscal year following the fiscal year such town received its final 483
grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, in an amount that 484
does not exceed fifty per cent of the grant amount such town received 485
for the town's or school's final year of eligibility pursuant to subdivision 486
(1) of this subsection; and (iii) for the third fiscal year following the fiscal 487
year such town received its final grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of 488
this subsection, in an amount that does not exceed twenty-five per cent 489
of the grant amount such town received for the town's or school's final 490
year of eligibility pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. 491
(C) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, and each fiscal year 492
thereafter, any town that received a grant pursuant to subparagraph (B) 493
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2010, shall continue to receive a grant under this subsection even if the 495
town no longer meets the criteria for such grant pursuant to 496
subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection. 497
(e) (1) If funds appropriated for the purposes of subsection (c) of this 498
section are not expended, the commissioner may deposit such 499
unexpended funds in the account established under section 10-16aa and 500
use such unexpended funds in accordance with the provisions of section 501
10-16aa. 502
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year 503
thereafter, if funds appropriated for the purposes of subsection (c) of 504
this section are not expended, an amount up to one million dollars of 505
such unexpended funds may be available for the provision of 506
scholarships and professional development for early childhood care and 507
education program providers, and individual staff members employed 508
in such programs, provided such programs accept state funds for infant, 509
toddler and preschool slots. Such unexpended funds may be available 510
for use in accordance with the provisions of this [subparagraph] 511
subdivision for the subsequent fiscal year. The commissioner may use 512
such unexpended funds on and after July 1, 2015, to support early 513
childhood education programs accepting state funds in satisfying the 514
staff qualifications requirements of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of 515
subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner shall 516
use any such funds to provide assistance to individual staff members, 517
giving priority to those staff members (A) attending an institution of 518
higher education accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher 519
Education or the Office of Higher Education, and approved by the 520
Office of Early Childhood, and regionally accredited, at a maximum of 521
ten thousand dollars per staff member per year for the cost of higher 522
education courses leading to a bachelor's degree or, not later than 523
December 31, 2015, an associate degree, as such degrees are described 524
in said subparagraphs (B) and (C), or (B) receiving noncredit 525
competency-based training approved by the office, at a maximum of one 526
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members have applied for all available federal and state scholarships 528
and grants, and such assistance does not exceed such staff members' 529
financial need. Individual staff members shall apply for such 530
unexpended funds in a manner determined by the commissioner. The 531
commissioner shall determine how such unexpended funds shall be 532
distributed. 533
(3) If funds appropriated for the purposes of subsection (c) of this 534
section are not expended pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, 535
deposited pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, or used 536
pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the commissioner may 537
use such unexpended funds to support local school readiness programs. 538
The commissioner may use such funds for purposes including, but not 539
limited to, (A) assisting local school readiness programs in meeting and 540
maintaining accreditation requirements, (B) providing training in 541
implementing the preschool assessment and curriculum frameworks, 542
including training to enhance literacy teaching skills, (C) developing a 543
state-wide preschool curriculum, (D) developing student assessments 544
for students in grades kindergarten to two, inclusive, (E) developing 545
and implementing best practices for parents in supporting preschool 546
and kindergarten student learning, (F) developing and implementing 547
strategies for children to successfully transition to preschool and from 548
preschool to kindergarten, including through parental engagement and 549
whole-family supports that may be utilized through the two -550
generational initiative, established pursuant to section 17b-112l, or 551
through other available resources, (G) providing for professional 552
development, including assisting in career ladder advancement, for 553
school readiness staff, (H) providing supplemental grants to other 554
towns that are eligible for grants pursuant to subsection (c) of this 555
section, and (I) developing a plan to provide spaces in an accredited 556
school readiness program or a school readiness program seeking 557
accreditation to all eligible children who reside in an area or town 558
described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of 559
subsection (d) of this section. 560 Raised Bill No. 5465
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(f) Any school readiness program that receives funds pursuant to this 561
section or section 10-16u shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, 562
national origin, gender, religion or disability. For purposes of this 563
section, a nonsectarian program means any public or private school 564
readiness program that is not violative of the Establishment Clause of 565
the Constitution of the State of Connecticut or the Establishment Clause 566
of the Constitution of the United States of America. 567
(g) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, no funds received by 568
a town pursuant to subsection (c) or (d) of this section or section 10-16u 569
shall be used to supplant federal, state or local funding received by such 570
town for early childhood education, provided a town may use an 571
amount determined in accordance with this subsection for coordination, 572
program evaluation and administration. Such amount shall be at least 573
five per cent of the total grant allocation, but not more than seventy-five 574
thousand dollars and shall be determined by the commissioner based 575
on the school readiness grant award allocated to the town pursuant to 576
subsection (c) or (d) of this section or section 10-16u and the number of 577
operating sites for coordination, program evaluation and 578
administration. Such amount shall be increased by an amount equal to 579
local funding provided for early childhood education coordination, 580
program evaluation and administration, not to exceed twenty-five 581
thousand dollars. Each town that receives a grant pursuant to 582
subsection (c) or (d) of this section or section 10-16u shall designate a 583
person to be responsible for such coordination, program evaluation and 584
administration and to act as a liaison between the town and the 585
commissioner. Each school readiness program that receives funds 586
pursuant to this section or section 10-16u shall provide information to 587
the commissioner or the school readiness council, as requested, that is 588
necessary for purposes of any school readiness program evaluation. 589
(h) Any town receiving a grant pursuant to this section may use such 590
grant, with the approval of the commissioner, to prepare a facility or 591
staff for operating a school readiness program and shall be adjusted 592
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if a shorter term of operation is approved by the commissioner. 594
(i) A town may use grant funds to purchase spaces for eligible 595
children who reside in such town at an accredited school readiness 596
program located in another town. A regional school readiness council 597
may use grant funds to purchase spaces for eligible children who reside 598
in the region covered by the council at an accredited school readiness 599
program located outside such region. 600
(j) Children enrolled in school readiness programs funded pursuant 601
to this section shall not be counted (1) as resident students for purposes 602
of subdivision (22) of section 10-262f, or (2) in the determination of 603
average daily membership pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) 604
of section 10-261. 605
(k) (1) Up to two per cent of the amount of the appropriation for this 606
section may be allocated to the competitive grant program pursuant to 607
subsection (d) of this section. The determination of the amount of such 608
allocation shall be made on or before August first. 609
(2) Up to two per cent of the amount of the appropriation for this 610
section may be used by the commissioner in a manner consistent with 611
the provisions of section 10-509. 612
[(l) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year 613
thereafter, any school readiness program that (1) is licensed by the 614
Office of Early Childhood pursuant to chapter 368a, (2) provides full-615
day and year-round child care and education programs for children, 616
and (3) receives funds pursuant to this section or section 10-16u, shall 617
use any amount of the per child cost as described in subdivision (1) of 618
subsection (b) of section 10-16q that is over the amount of eight 619
thousand nine hundred twenty-seven dollars, exclusively to increase 620
the salaries of those individuals with direct responsibility for teaching 621
or caring for children in a classroom at such school readiness program.] 622
Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 8-210 of the 2022 supplement to the 623
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 624 Raised Bill No. 5465
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thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 625
(b) The state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of 626
Early Childhood, may enter into a contract with a municipality, a group 627
child care home or family child care home, as described in section 19a-628
77, as amended by this act, a human resource development agency or a 629
nonprofit corporation for state financial assistance in developing and 630
operating child care centers, group child care homes and family child 631
care homes for children disadvantaged by reasons of economic, social 632
or environmental conditions, provided no such financial assistance shall 633
be available for the operating costs of any such child care center, group 634
child care home or family child care home unless it has been licensed by 635
the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-80. Such 636
financial assistance shall be available for a program of a municipality, of 637
a group child care home or family child care home, of a human resource 638
development agency or of a nonprofit corporation which may provide 639
for personnel, equipment, supplies, activities, program materials and 640
renovation and remodeling of the physical facilities of such child care 641
centers, group child care homes or family child care homes. Such 642
contract shall provide for state financial assistance, within available 643
appropriations, in the form of a state grant-in-aid (1) for a portion of the 644
cost of such program, as determined by the Commissioner of Early 645
Childhood, if not federally assisted, (2) equal to one-half of the amount 646
by which the net cost of such program, as approved by the 647
Commissioner of Early Childhood, exceeds the federal grant-in-aid 648
thereof, or (3) in an amount not less than the per child cost as described 649
in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-16q, as amended by this 650
act, for each child in such program that is three or four years of age and 651
each child that is five years of age who is not eligible to enroll in school, 652
pursuant to section 10-15c, while maintaining services to children under 653
three years of age under this section. [For the fiscal year ending June 30, 654
2020, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount per child pursuant to 655
subdivision (3) of this subsection that is over the amount of the per child 656
cost that was prescribed pursuant to the contract for the fiscal year 657
ending June 30, 2019, shall be used exclusively to increase the salaries of 658 Raised Bill No. 5465
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early childhood educators employed at the child care center.] The 659
Commissioner of Early Childhood may authorize child care centers, 660
group child care homes and family child care homes receiving financial 661
assistance under this subsection to apply a program surplus to the next 662
program year. The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall consult with 663
directors of child care centers in establishing fees for the operation of 664
such centers. 665
Sec. 8. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 17b-749 of the 2022 666
supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 667
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 668
(a) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish and operate 669
a child care subsidy program to increase the availability, affordability 670
and quality of child care services for families with a parent or caretaker 671
who (1) is (A) working or attending high school, or (B) [subject to the 672
provisions of subsection (d) of this section,] is enrolled or participating 673
in (i) a public or independent institution of higher education, (ii) a 674
private occupational school authorized pursuant to sections 10a-22a to 675
10a-22o, inclusive, (iii) a job training or employment program 676
administered by a regional workforce development board, (iv) an 677
apprenticeship program administered by the Labor Department's office 678
of apprenticeship training, (v) an alternate route to certification program 679
approved by the State Board of Education, (vi) an adult education 680
program pursuant to section 10-69 or other high school equivalency 681
program, or (vii) a local Even Start program or other adult education 682
program approved by the Commissioner of Early Childhood; or (2) 683
receives cash assistance under the temporary family assistance program 684
from the Department of Social Services and is participating in an 685
education, training or other job preparation activity approved pursuant 686
to subsection (b) of section 17b-688i or subsection (b) of section 17b-687
689d. Services available under the child care subsidy program shall 688
include the provision of child care subsidies for children under the age 689
of thirteen or children under the age of nineteen with special needs. The 690
Office of Early Childhood shall open and maintain enrollment for the 691 Raised Bill No. 5465
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child care subsidy program and shall administer such program within 692
the existing budgetary resources available. The office shall issue a notice 693
on the office's Internet web site any time the office closes the program to 694
new applications, changes eligibility requirements, changes program 695
benefits or makes any other change to the program's status or terms, 696
except the office shall not be required to issue such notice when the 697
office expands program eligibility. Any change in the office's acceptance 698
of new applications, eligibility requirements, program benefits or any 699
other change to the program's status or terms for which the office is 700
required to give notice pursuant to this subsection, shall not be effective 701
until thirty days after the office issues such notice. 702
(b) The commissioner shall (1) establish income standards for 703
applicants and recipients at a level to include a family with gross income 704
up to [fifty] seventy-five per cent of the state-wide median income, 705
except the commissioner, [(1) may increase the income level up to the 706
maximum level allowed under federal law, (2)] upon the request of the 707
Commissioner of Children and Families, may waive the income 708
standards for adoptive families so that children adopted on or after 709
October 1, 1999, from the Department of Children and Families are 710
eligible for the child care subsidy program, and [(3) on and after March 711
1, 2003, shall reduce the income eligibility level to up to fifty-five per 712
cent of the state-wide median income for applicants and recipients who 713
qualify based on their loss of eligibility for temporary family assistance] 714
(2) limit the amount of a family copay to a maximum of seven per cent 715
of a family's household income. The commissioner may adopt 716
regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to establish income criteria 717
and durational requirements for such waiver of income standards. 718
Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 17b-749 of the 2022 supplement to the 719
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 720
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 721
(d) (1) Not later than July 1, 2015, an applicant determined to be 722
eligible for program benefits by the Commissioner of Early Childhood 723
shall remain eligible for such benefits for a period prescribed by federal 724 Raised Bill No. 5465
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law. [, except any applicant determined to be eligible for program 725
benefits by the commissioner under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) 726
of subsection (a) of this section shall only be eligible for and receive such 727
benefits upon the availability of federal funds received pursuant to 728
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 729
P.L. 116-260, as amended from time to time, or the American Rescue 730
Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, as amended from time to time, and 731
designated by the commissioner for such benefits.] 732
(2) For purposes of determining the eligibility of an applicant for 733
program benefits under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of 734
subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner shall accept evidence of 735
registration with a job search assistance program administered by the 736
Labor Department. An applicant determined to be eligible for program 737
benefits under this subdivision shall be considered employed half-time 738
and eligible for such benefits for a period of ninety days while such 739
applicant seeks employment. 740
Sec. 10. Section 17b-749 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 741
is amended by adding subsection (l) as follows (Effective July 1, 2022): 742
(NEW) (l) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 743
thereafter, the amount of the subsidy paid to providers under the child 744
care subsidy program shall be at least seventy-five per cent of the market 745
rate, as determined by the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant 746
to the current market rate study required under federal law. 747
Sec. 11. Subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 19a-77 of the 748
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 749
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 750
(3) A "family child care home" which consists of a private family 751
home (A) caring for not more than six children, including the provider's 752
own children not in school full time, or if there is an assistant or 753
substitute staff member approved by the Commissioner of Early 754
Childhood present, not more than nine children, (B) where the children 755 Raised Bill No. 5465
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are cared for not less than three or more than twelve hours during a 756
twenty-four-hour period, and (C) where care is given on a regularly 757
recurring basis except that care may be provided in excess of twelve 758
hours but not more than seventy -two consecutive hours to 759
accommodate a need for extended care or intermittent short-term 760
overnight care. [During the regular school year, a maximum of three 761
additional children who are in school full time, including the provider's 762
own children, shall be permitted, except that if the provider has more 763
than three children who are in school full time] At any time during the 764
year, all of the provider's children shall be permitted; [. During the 765
summer months when regular school is not in session, a maximum of 766
three additional children who are otherwise enrolled in school full time, 767
including the provider's own children, shall be permitted if there is an 768
assistant or substitute staff member approved by the Commissioner of 769
Early Childhood, pursuant to section 19a-87b, present and assisting the 770
provider, except that (A) if the provider has more than three such 771
additional children who are the provider's own children, all of the 772
provider's own children shall be permitted, and (B) such approved 773
assistant or substitute staff member shall not be required if all of such 774
additional children are the provider's own children;] 775
Sec. 12. Section 10-16r of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 776
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 777
1, 2022): 778
(a) A town seeking to apply for a grant pursuant to subsection (c) of 779
section 10-16p, as amended by this act, or section 10-16u shall convene 780
a local school readiness council or shall establish a regional school 781
readiness council pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Any other 782
town may convene such a council. The chief elected official of the town 783
or, in the case of a regional school district, the chief elected officials of 784
the towns in the school district and the superintendent of schools for the 785
school district shall jointly appoint and convene such council. Each 786
school readiness council shall be composed of: (1) The chief elected 787
official, or the official's designee; (2) the superintendent of schools, or a 788 Raised Bill No. 5465
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management level staff person as the superintendent's designee; (3) 789
parents; (4) representatives from local programs such as Head Start, 790
child care providers receiving state financial assistance pursuant to 791
section 8-210, as amended by this act, family resource centers, nonprofit 792
and for-profit child care centers, group child care homes, 793
prekindergarten and nursery schools, and family child care home 794
providers; (5) a representative from a health care provider in the 795
community; (6) the local homeless education liaison designated by the 796
local or regional board of education for the school district, pursuant to 797
Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 798
42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time; (7) a representative 799
from a workforce or job training entity in the community; (8) a 800
representative from a local business in the community; and (9) other 801
representatives from the community who provide services to children. 802
On and after July 1, 2021, the members of the school readiness council 803
shall elect the chairperson of the school readiness council. Each school 804
readiness council is required to document efforts to ensure that the 805
racial, ethnic and socioeconomic composition of the council reflects that 806
of its town or region, as applicable. At least twenty-five per cent of the 807
membership of the school readiness council shall be parents or 808
guardians of children eligible to attend a school readiness program. 809
Such parents or guardians may, within available appropriations, be 810
compensated for any time and travel related to council meetings, and 811
any activities related to training, leadership and community 812
engagement. School readiness council meetings shall be held at times 813
and locations that are convenient for the council members, including the 814
parent and guardian members. 815
(b) The local school readiness council shall: (1) Make 816
recommendations to the chief elected official and the superintendent of 817
schools on issues relating to school readiness, including any 818
applications for grants pursuant to sections 10-16p, as amended by this 819
act, 10-16u, 17b-749a and 17b-749c; (2) foster partnerships among 820
providers of school readiness programs; (3) cooperate with the Office of 821
Early Childhood in any evaluation of a school readiness program; (4) 822 Raised Bill No. 5465
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identify existing and prospective resources and services available to 823
children and families; (5) facilitate the coordination of the delivery of 824
services to children and families, including (A) referral procedures, and 825
(B) before and after-school child care for children attending 826
kindergarten programs; (6) exchange information with other councils, 827
the community and organizations serving the needs of children and 828
families; (7) make recommendations to school officials concerning 829
transition from school readiness programs to kindergarten; (8) 830
encourage public participation; [and] (9) collaborate with the Office of 831
Early Childhood related to planning improvements to the state early 832
care and education governance structure; and (10) conduct, as 833
necessary, a needs assessment for early childhood education for 834
children and families in the community. 835
(c) Two or more towns or school districts and appropriate 836
representatives of groups or entities interested in early childhood 837
education in a region may establish a regional school readiness council. 838
If a priority school is located in at least one of such school districts, the 839
regional school readiness council may apply for a grant pursuant to 840
subsection (d) of section 10-16p, as amended by this act. The regional 841
school readiness council may perform the duties outlined in 842
subdivisions (2) to (8), inclusive, and (10) of subsection (b) of this 843
section. 844
(d) On and after July 1, 2022, following a local needs assessment 845
conducted pursuant to subdivision (10) of subsection (b) of this section, 846
that reveals a surplus of unused school readiness spaces, a local or 847
regional school readiness council may convert such unused school 848
readiness spaces to infant and toddler spaces, provided the per child 849
cost for such converted spaces does not exceed the per child cost for 850
infant and toddler spaces for state-funded child care centers pursuant to 851
section 8-210, as amended by this act. 852
Sec. 13. (Effective July 1, 2022) The sum of ____ dollars is appropriated 853
to the Office of Early Childhood from the General Fund, for the fiscal 854
year ending June 30, 2023, for the purpose of expending such funds in 855 Raised Bill No. 5465
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accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of 856
section 10-16p of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 857
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2022 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2022 New section
Sec. 3 July 1, 2022 10-531
Sec. 4 July 1, 2022 New section
Sec. 5 July 1, 2022 10-16q(b)(1)
Sec. 6 July 1, 2022 10-16p
Sec. 7 July 1, 2022 8-210(b)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2022 17b-749(a) and (b)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2022 17b-749(d)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2022 17b-749
Sec. 11 July 1, 2022 19a-77(a)(3)
Sec. 12 July 1, 2022 10-16r
Sec. 13 July 1, 2022 New section
ED Joint Favorable
APP Joint Favorable