Bill > S2369

This bill, titled the "Rhode Island Early Educator Workforce Act," mandates that the Department of Human Services and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education collaborate to oversee existing programs aimed at developing and compensating early educators who work in licensed child care and early learning settings across the state. Specifically, these departments will manage the Rhode Island T.E.A.C.H. early childhood program, which provides scholarships to help educators earn credentials and college degrees, and will also manage registered apprenticeships that include on-the-job coaching. Furthermore, the bill allocates at least $1,000,000 annually to continue the Child Care WAGE$ program, a recognized model that offers salary supplements based on education to early educators in licensed programs, thereby aiming to improve their compensation, education, and retention, and will take effect immediately upon its passage.

Budget and Finance

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