The Substitute House Bill No. 6899, titled "An Act Concerning Early Educator Pay Equity," seeks to improve the compensation framework for early childhood educators in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2025. The bill mandates the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to develop a new compensation schedule that considers factors such as education level, training, and experience. It establishes a salary enhancement grant program to provide financial support to early childhood care and education programs, ensuring equitable pay for educators. The bill also repeals and replaces existing language in section 10-531 of the general statutes, updating definitions and eligibility criteria for employees in early childhood education programs, while removing previous staff qualification requirements.

Additionally, the bill introduces a structured approach to salary enhancements, requiring the OEC to provide annual salary enhancement grants to family child care homes, with specific amounts allocated for licensees and assistants. It expands the compensation schedule to include a wider range of early childhood care and education programs, ensuring that all employees receive salaries aligned with the new compensation framework unless they are already earning more. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance financial support for early childhood educators and improve the overall compensation landscape in Connecticut's early childhood education sector.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-531
KID Joint Favorable Change of Reference: 10-531
ED Joint Favorable Change of Reference: 10-531
APP Joint Favorable: 10-531
File No. 859: 10-531