Signed by Governor Tina Kotek

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Department of Early Learning and Care to evaluate possible barriers to expanding the early childhood workforce.

Highlights:

• Requires that the Department of Early Learning and Care commission an independent study to identify barriers to a  high quality early childhood workforce and to provide guidance for future professional development specific to the needs of the early childhood workforce in Oregon (Sec. 1).

• Requires that, when selecting an entity to conduct the study, the department prioritize either of the following entities the demonstrates experience in applied policy research and analysis and subject matter expertise (Sec. 1):

• Community-based nonprofit organizations;

• Firms who have received a certification from the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity.

• Requires that the study (Sec. 1):

• Examine barriers and inefficiencies in the early childhood workforce registry;

• Evaluate challenges faced by early childhood professionals;

• Review the active efforts currently in place that promote increased accessibility and transferability to community college credits across post-secondary institutions;

• Consider possible accreditation processes for transferring international college credits related to early childhood and child development;

• Explore career pathways that have successfully reduced inefficiencies and barriers.

• Requires that the department convene a stakeholder group to review the study’s findings and provide recommendations for (Sec. 1):

• Strategies to attain more equitable compensation;

• Creating a career pipeline for the early childhood workforce;

• The content of administrative rules adopted by the department.

• Require that, no later than December 31, 2025, the department adopt rules addressing barriers that impede entry into the early childhood workforce and simplify and eliminate administrative inefficiencies that exist by (Sec. 1):

• Establishing consistent standards for assessments;

• Streamlining the out-of-state accreditation process;

• Provide a foreign language translation feature in the workforce registry to translate documents.

• Requires that the department submit reports that include legislation recommendations and that the first report be submitted no later than September 15, 2024 (Sec. 1).

• Repeals Section 1 of this act on January 2, 2026 (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates to the Department of Early Learning and Care, for the biennium starting July  1, 2023, out of the General Fund, $300,000 to carry out the provisions of this Act (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that this Act goes into effect on its passage in order to preserve the public’s peace, health, and safety (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Department of Early Learning and Care to evaluate possible barriers to expanding the early childhood workforce.

Highlights:

• Requires that the Department of Early Learning and Care commission an independent study to identify barriers to a  high quality early childhood workforce and to provide guidance for future professional development specific to the needs of the early childhood workforce in Oregon (Sec. 1).

• Requires that, when selecting an entity to conduct the study, the department prioritize either of the following entities the demonstrates experience in applied policy research and analysis and subject matter expertise (Sec. 1):

• Community-based nonprofit organizations;

• Firms who have received a certification from the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity.

• Requires that the study (Sec. 1):

• Examine barriers and inefficiencies in the early childhood workforce registry;

• Evaluate challenges faced by early childhood professionals;

• Review the active efforts currently in place that promote increased accessibility and transferability to community college credits across post-secondary institutions;

• Consider possible accreditation processes for transferring international college credits related to early childhood and child development;

• Explore career pathways that have successfully reduced inefficiencies and barriers.

• Requires that the department convene a stakeholder group to review the study’s findings and provide recommendations for (Sec. 1):

• Strategies to attain more equitable compensation;

• Creating a career pipeline for the early childhood workforce;

• The content of administrative rules adopted by the department.

• Require that, no later than December 31, 2025, the department adopt rules addressing barriers that impede entry into the early childhood workforce and simplify and eliminate administrative inefficiencies that exist by (Sec. 1):

• Establishing consistent standards for assessments;

• Streamlining the out-of-state accreditation process;

• Provide a foreign language translation feature in the workforce registry to translate documents.

• Requires that the department submit reports that include legislation recommendations and that the first report be submitted no later than September 15, 2024 (Sec. 1).

• Repeals Section 1 of this act on January 2, 2026 (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates to the Department of Early Learning and Care, for the biennium starting July  1, 2023, out of the General Fund, $300,000 to carry out the provisions of this Act (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that this Act goes into effect on its passage in order to preserve the public’s peace, health, and safety (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text