Substitute House Bill No. 6899 seeks to improve pay equity for early childhood educators in Connecticut by establishing a salary enhancement grant program administered by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC). Effective July 1, 2025, the bill introduces new definitions such as "compensation schedule," "early childhood care and education program," and "employee." It mandates that starting in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the OEC will provide salary enhancement grants to early childhood care and education programs and family child care homes, with grants distributed based on a compensation schedule that includes a benefits amount of $7,500. The bill also repeals and replaces Section 10-531 of the general statutes to update definitions and eligibility criteria for employees, ensuring that the new provisions align with the goals of the salary enhancement program.

Furthermore, the bill requires the OEC to develop a comprehensive compensation schedule that factors in education, training, experience, and cost of living, with a recommended minimum salary for early childhood educators. By January 1, 2026, the compensation schedule must be amended to include a wider range of early childhood care and education programs, ensuring equitable pay across the sector. The salary enhancement grants will provide significant financial support, with amounts specified for different roles within family child care homes, and the OEC is tasked with creating an administrative policy for grant distribution by October 1, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the compensation structure for early childhood educators and improve the quality of early childhood education in Connecticut.

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