Bill > H5321

This bill establishes the Rhode Island Child Care for All Act, a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming the state's early childhood education and care system. The bill creates an Office for Early Learning within the executive branch by June 30, 2027, which will be responsible for developing a mixed-delivery system of high-quality, affordable child care for children from infancy through age 12, with a focus on providing free pre-kindergarten for 3-4 year olds. The legislation introduces a phased approach to child care assistance, beginning with fully subsidizing care for families at or below 50% of the state median income by 2028, and gradually expanding to cover families with incomes up to 200% of the state median income by 2030. The bill mandates that family copayments should not exceed 7% of family income and establishes a compensation task force to ensure child care educators receive competitive wages comparable to K-12 teachers. Additionally, the bill requires the new office to provide direct support to child care providers, help address workforce shortages, improve provider infrastructure, and potentially develop a public child care option pilot program. The comprehensive approach recognizes child care as a public good essential for supporting families, workers, and the state's economic development.

Budget and Finance

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