SB 922 — Streamlining and enhancing early childhood education and child care services in WV

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION IntroducedCommittee FISCALSubstitute for Senate Bill 922 NOTE By Senator Maynard [Introduced[Reported March 24,25, 2025;2025, from the Committee on Health and Human Resources] CS for SB 922 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §18-3A-1, §18-3A-2, §18-3A-3, §18-3A-4, and §18-3A-5, relating to coordinating early childhood education in West Virginia;

referredsetting toforth theprogram’s Committeepurpose; on Health and Human Resources;

andrequiring then to the CommitteeWest onVirginia Finance]Department Intr SB 922 2025R4019 A BILL to amend the Code of WestEducation Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §18-3A-1, §18-3A-2, §18-3A-3, §18-3A-4, §18-3A-5, §18-3A-6, §18-3A-7, and §18-3A-8,Department relatingof Health to streamliningcoordinate andprograms; enhancing early childhood education and child care services in West Virginia;

integratingrequiring thereporting; existing Head Start, West Virginia Department of Education's Pre-K, and Birth-to-Three programs;

improving access, affordability, and qualitysetting offorth childeffective caredate. for working families;

and ensuring continuity of care and education from birth to school entry.

WEST VIRGINIA COMPREHENSIVEEARLY CHILDCARECHILDHOOD PROGRAMEDUCATION COORDINATION ACT.

This act shall be known as the West Virginia ComprehensiveEarly ChildcareChildhood ProgramEducation Coordination Act.

The purpose of this act is to streamlinecoordinate and enhance early childhood education and childcare services in West Virginia by integratingrequiring the existing Head Start, the West Virginia Department of Education's Pre-K,Pre- andK, Birth to ThreeThree, programsand intoother aearly unified,childhood state-administerededucation system.programs coordinate service delivery.

This initiative aims to improve access, affordability, and quality of early childhood education prograns and childcare for working families while ensuring continuity of care and education from birth to school entry.

EstablishmentProgram ofAdministration. the West Virginia Comprehensive Childcare Program.

(a) Program Creation – The West Virginia ComprehensiveDepartment Childcareof ProgramEducation (WVCCP)and isthe herebyDepartment establishedof underHealth, thewith administrationinput offrom thelocal Westschool Virginiadistricts, DepartmentHead ofStart Education,programs, inlicensed coordinationchildcare withproviders, theand Westparent Virginiaadvocacy Departmentgroups, ofshall Healthidentify andprograms Humanproviding Servicesearly andchildhood education to children in the Officestate, ofincluding Earlybut Learning.not limited, to Pre-K and Birth to Three;

(b) IntegrationOnce ofthe Servicesprograms –have Thebeen programidentified, shallthe consolidateWest andVirginia manageDepartment of Education and the existingDepartment Headof Start,Health Pre-K,shall andcoordinate Birthservice delivery to Threeensure programsthat under a singlechild, framework,if ensuringeligible, seamlesswill servicereceive deliveryall fromearly infancychildhood througheducation agebenefits five.available;

(c)1 FundingCS Mechanismfor –SB 922 (c) The programcoordination shallof beservice fundeddelivery throughmay ainclude, combinationbut ofnot statebe Intrlimited SBto, 922determining 2025R4019eligibility appropriations,for federaleach grants,program, andsharing privateeligibility sectorinformation partnerships,between programs with provisionsthe toappropriate maximizeconsent, availableor federalconducting matchinga funds.warm handoff between programs of the parent or guardian and the child.

Program Administration and Structure.

(a) Statewide Coordination – The WVCCP shall establish a Statewide Early Childhood Education and Care Council, composed of representatives from the Department of Health Services, local school districts, Head Start programs, licensed childcare providers, and parent advocacy groups.

(b) Local Implementation – Each county shall form a Childcare Coordination Board to oversee program implementation, ensure compliance with state standards, and coordinate resources with existing public and private childcare providers.

(c) Public-Private Partnerships – The program shall encourage partnerships with private childcare providers, faith-based organizations, and community groups to expand service availability.

§18-3A-5.

Eligibility and Access.

(a) Universal Access for Low- and Middle-Income Families – All children from birth to age five shall be eligible for services, with priority given to low-income families, children with disabilities, and those facing other barriers to early education.

(b) Sliding Fee Scale – Families above income thresholds for free access shall pay fees on a sliding scale based on household income, ensuring affordability for working families.

§18-3A-6.

Workforce Development and Training.

(a) Educator Credentialing and Salaries – All early childhood educators within the program shall meet standardized credentialing requirements and receive salaries comparable to K-12 public school teachers.

(b) Professional Development – The program shall provide continuous professional development and training for childcare providers and educators to maintain high-quality standards.

Intr SB 922 2025R4019 §18-3A-7.

(a) Annual Reporting – The Department of Education shall submit an annual report to the LegislatureLegislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability detailing program enrollment, fiscal expenditures, child development outcomes, and areas for improvement.improvement beginning July 1, 2026 and July 1 annually thereafter.

(b) IndependentThe AuditsDepartment –of TheHealth program shall besubmit subjectan annual report to regularthe financialLegislative Oversight Commission on Health and performanceHuman auditsResources toAccountability ensuredetailing accountabilityprogram enrollment, fiscal expenditures, child development outcomes, and efficiency.areas for improvement beginning July 1, 2026 and July 1 annually thereafter.

§18-3A-8.§18-3A-5.

This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026,2026. with phased implementation over a three-year period to ensure a smooth transition.

NOTE:

The purpose of this bill is to streamline and enhance early childhood education and childcare services in West Virginia by integrating the existing Head Start, West Virginia Department of Education's Pre-K, and Birth to Three programs into a unified, state- administered system.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.