Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes early childhood educators workforce support programs to promote growth of the workforce.

Highlights:

• Requires the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Labor to develop and implement an early childhood educators workforce support program to recruit and retain early childhood educators working with children up to age 5 (Sec. 1, Pg. 2).

• Requires the program to include career and technical education support, comprehensive scholarships, apprenticeship opportunities, agreements with adult education providers, support for immigrants and those new to the workforce, and salary supplements for providers of child care and early childhood education (Sec. 1, Pgs. 2 & 3).

• Appropriates $100,000 to the Department of Education from the General Fund to support ongoing child care and early childhood education providers in the State (Sec. 2, Pgs. 3 & 4).

• Appropriates $4,700,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services from state and federal funds to support the aforementioned scholarships and salary supplements (Sec. 2, Pg. 4).

• Appropriates $200,000 to the Department of Labor to expand apprenticeship programs for those working in the industry (Sec. 2, Pgs. 4 & 5).

Full Bill Text