Substitute House Bill No. 6921 seeks to enhance early childhood education and youth camp regulations in Connecticut by amending existing statutes. The bill broadens the definition of "Office of Early Childhood funded early care and education program" to include before and after school programs for children from infancy to preschool age. It introduces new educational qualifications for designated staff members, requiring them to have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or an associate degree with relevant credits, with a phased increase in the percentage of qualified staff from 25% to 60% by 2030. Significant deletions include the removal of certain staff qualifications and the previous requirement for supervision by a bachelor's degree holder at off-site locations. By July 1, 2035, family child care home providers will also need to meet these educational requirements.

Additionally, the bill mandates that youth camps obtain non-transferable licenses from the Office of Early Childhood, with a clear renewal process and fee structure. It modifies the composition of the State Interagency Birth-to-Three Coordinating Council to ensure diverse representation and eliminates the annual strategic report requirement for the Early Childhood Cabinet. The bill also extends the deadline for implementing a sliding fee scale for the Early Start CT program to July 1, 2027, and allows for more flexible funding allocation for local governance partners. Overall, the bill aims to improve the quality and accessibility of early childhood education and youth camp services while promoting inclusivity and effective governance.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-550g, 10-550d
ED Joint Favorable: 10-550g, 10-550d
File No. 705: 10-550g, 10-550d