SB 912 — AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE STAFF QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.

General Assembly   RaisedSubstitute Bill No.

912 January Session, 2017   LCO*_____SB00912ED____032717____* No.AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE STAFF QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.

4416   *04416_______ED_* Referred to Committee on EDUCATION   Introduced by:

  (ED)   AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE STAFF QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.

(B) From July 1, 2017,[2017] 2018, until June 30, 2020,[2020] 2021, "staff qualifications" means that for each early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child care program or school readiness program, (i) at least fifty per cent of those individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children (I) hold (I)[(I)] certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special education, [or] (II) hold a bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child study, child development or human growth and development, from an institution of higher education accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education, and regionally accredited, provided such bachelor's degree program is approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education and the Office of Early Childhood, or (III) hold a bachelor's degree and twelve credits or more in early childhood educationeducation, orchild study, child development or anhuman advancedgrowth degreeand in early childhood education or child development, as determined by the commissioner or the presidentfunctional equivalent of thesuch Connecticutsubject Stateareas, Colleges and Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from an institution of higher education accreditedthat byis theregionally Boardaccredited, ofor Regents(IV) forsatisfy Higherthe Educationrequirements orof Officesubdivision of(3), Higher(4) Education,or and(5) regionallyof accredited,this subsection, and (ii) such remaining individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children hold an associate degree with a concentration in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, an associate degree in early childhood education, child study, child development or human growth and development, from an institution of higher education (I) accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education, and (II) regionally accredited, provided such associate degree program is approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education and the Office of Early Childhood;

and (C) On and after July 1, 2020,[2020] 2021, "staff qualifications" means that for each early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child care program or school readiness program, one hundred per cent of those individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children (i) hold (i)[(i)] certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special education, [or] (ii) hold a bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child study, child development or human growth and development, from an institution of higher education (I)[(I)] accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education, and (II)[(II)] regionally accredited, provided such bachelor's degree program is approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education and the Office of Early Childhood, or (iii) hold a bachelor's degree and twelve credits or more in early childhood educationeducation, orchild study, child development or anhuman advancedgrowth degreeand in early childhood education or child development, as determined by the commissioner or the presidentfunctional equivalent of thesuch Connecticutsubject Stateareas, Colleges and Universities, after consultation with the commissioner, from an institution of higher education (I)that accreditedis byregionally accredited, or (iv) satisfy the Boardrequirements of Regentssubdivision for(3), Higher(4) Education or Office(5) of Higherthis Education,subsection. and (II) regionally accredited.

Section 1 July 1, 2017 10-16p(b)(2)(B) and (C) StatementED ofJoint Purpose:Favorable Subst.

To allow an individual who holds a bachelor's degree and has completed twelve credits or more in early childhood education or child development to satisfy the staff qualifications requirement for early childhood educators.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.

Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]