Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that expands access to childcare.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Early Education and Child Care Workforce Development Trust Fund to promote professional development for child care providers (Sec. 2).

• Establishes a scholarship fund for child care providers to cover fees of continuing education and related expenses (Sec. 3).

• Establishes a student loan forgiveness program for child care providers (Sec. 3).

• Establishes an early education and child care workforce development and advisory council, responsible for making recommendations for workforce development programs for early childhood educators (Sec. 11).

• Establishes a data advisory commission,  responsible for (Sec. 12):

• Tracking how many children are receiving childcare subsidies;

• Reviewing national best practices on Department of Education financial transparency; and

• Streamlining data reporting and collection.

• Establishes an education subsidy program for families with an income 85% of or below the median state income, to be used for private or public schooling or child care services (Sec. 13).

• Establishes an operational grant program for child care providers who enroll children with subsidies (Sec. 14).

• Requires the department of early education and care to make recommendations and set eligibility regarding the operational grant program (Sec. 15).

• Establishes a special commission to make recommendations on employer-supported child care benefits (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text