2020 -- S 2462

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, Lawson, Conley, Goodwin, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly hereby finds and declares:

     (1) Young children's healthy brain development and learning depends on consistent,

nurturing care and enriching learning opportunities at home and in early care and education

settings. Starting at birth, day-to-day interactions with family members and early educators shape

children's brain architecture upon which all future learning and development is built.

     (2) Many of the early educators and early childhood professionals in Rhode Island earn

very low wages even when they achieve credentials equivalent to K-12 teachers and demonstrate

effective practices. Child care, family home visiting, and early intervention programs across the

state report difficulty attracting, developing, and retaining effective early childhood professionals.

     (3) A 2019 statewide survey of early childhood professionals in Rhode Island found that

over 40% of infant/toddler educators worry about having enough food to feed their family and

50% worry about having enough money to pay for housing.

     (4) Almost one-third of early educators have a second job to help make ends meet and

almost two thirds report that they plan to leave their early education job if the compensation does

not improve. And yet, most report that they enjoy working with children and families and many

have earned college credits and degrees in child development and early education.

     (5) A landmark report issued by the National Academy of Science in 2015 found that

educators of young children, including infants and toddlers, need the same high level of

knowledge and competencies as teachers of older children and that educational qualifications and

compensation of early educators should be equivalent to those of K-12 teachers.

     (6) According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for a

child care teacher in Rhode Island in 2018 was $12.15/hour, well-below the state median wage of

$20.21/hour and significantly below the level of kindergarten teachers who had an average annual

salary of $65,530. Rhode Island state agency data show that median wages for early intervention

providers and family home visitors range from $13.50/hour to $20.00/hour.

     (7) By enacting this law, the general assembly acknowledges the need to develop and

implement strategies to improve the compensation of early educators so programs can attract,

develop, and retain effective staff to care for and educate young children and provide family-

focused services.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-7.2 of the General Laws entitled "Office of Health and Human

Services" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-7.2-7.1. Establishment of early educators target wage scale.

     (a)(1) The secretary in consultation with the department of education shall establish goals

to improve compensation, including a common target wage scale for early educators working

with children from birth through third grade. The target wage scale shall apply to early educators

who have attained an education level above high school and demonstrated competence working

with children and families. The target wage scale shall be developed to apply to educators

working in child care centers, family child care homes, family home visiting programs, and early

intervention programs. The target wage scale shall promote parity with kindergarten through

grade twelve (K-12) public school teachers for individuals with similar credentials.

     (2) In developing this target wage scale, the secretary in consultation with the department

of education may consider the findings and recommendations provided in the 2019 Moving the

Needle on Compensation Task Force's report "Improving the Compensation and Retention of

Effective Infant/Toddler Educators in Rhode Island."

     (b) Upon establishment of the target wage scale, the secretary in consultation with the

department of education shall design strategies and estimate the cost to close the gap between

current wages and the target wage scale, including parity with public school teaching staff or

individuals with similar credentials. In developing the plan, the following components shall be

considered:

     (1) Continuation and expansion of the existing statewide, comprehensive, research-based

early childhood workforce development scholarship program established pursuant to § 16-87-4 to

include stronger and ongoing support for compensation, such as implementation of wage

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supplements or regular stipends for early educators to increase annual income to meet or exceed

the levels in the target wage scale. Consideration shall be given to the Infant/Toddler Educator

Education and Retention Awards demonstration program recommended by the Moving the

Needle on Compensation's Task Force.

     (2) Proposals to increase rates paid to early childhood programs that are adequate to

enable programs to pay early educators wages that meet or exceed the levels in the target wage

scale.

     (3) State contracts with early childhood programs to expand the availability of high-

quality services for young children and families with educators in the program paid wages that

meet or exceed the levels in the target wage scale.

     (4) Establishment of registered apprenticeships for early educators that support

completion of college coursework and attainment of college credentials while providing

opportunities to develop high-quality practices through regular on-the-job coaching by

established early educators. Apprenticeships shall be designed and funded to enable successful

participants to earn wages that meet or exceed the levels in the target wage scale.

     (c) Reporting: The secretary shall report back to the governor and general assembly on or

before December 1, 2020, with a target wage scale and initial cost estimates for public funding to

close the wage gaps for early educators.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

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     This act would provide that the secretary of health and human services in consultation

with the department of education establish an early educators' target wage scale.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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