Bill > H336

This bill declares it the policy of the Commonwealth to provide quality early education and care programs and services to all eligible families to support child development, school-readiness, and parental workforce participation. Within 120 days of enactment, the board of early education and care must submit a plan to various government officials outlining how this policy will be implemented over two years, ensuring all eligible families on the waitlist receive access to services within 90 days of the plan's submission. The plan will also analyze the costs of expanding eligibility to other children and recommend ways to increase early educator wages to be closer to those of public school teachers. Additionally, the bill amends Chapter 15D of the General Laws to ensure eligibility requirements for these programs are in the best interest of all children and are no more restrictive than those in place as of January 1, 2015. It also establishes a rate structure for payments to providers of subsidized early education and care programs, considering factors that support child development, ensure equitable access, reflect actual costs, account for variations in costs, and address the needs of children with special needs. These rates will be reviewed and revised annually, with increases tied to inflation or a minimum of 3 percent, and any revenue increases from these rates must prioritize higher salaries for classroom staff and other expenditures that enhance the quality of care and staff retention.