H.B. 344
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Mar 9, 2023
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH40180-LU-30A
Short Title: QRIS/Star Rating System Reform. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Willis.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE TO HOLD HARMLESS CERTAIN
3 FACILITIES WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
4 RESUMES ENVIRONMENTAL RATING SCALE (ERS) ASSESSMENTS FOR
5 LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND TO REQUIRE THE NORTH CAROLINA
6 CHILD CARE COMMISSION TO COMPLETE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
7 STAR-RATING SYSTEM REFORM AND REPORT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
8 THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN
9 SERVICES.
10 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
11 SECTION 1.(a) Section 2 of S.L. 2021-127 reads as rewritten:
12 "SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, when ERS
13 assessments resume and the Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division) is
14 awarding quality rating improvement system (QRIS) "education points" to a licensed child care
15 facility toward its star rating, if the percentage of lead teachers in the program required to meet
16 the "rated licensed education requirements" criteria is set at seventy-five percent (75%) for the
17 program to earn those "education points" toward the facility's star rating, the Division shall lower
18 the seventy-five percent (75%) threshold to fifty percent (50%) of lead teachers through June 30,
19 2023.2026."
20 SECTION 1.(b) Section 3 of S.L. 2021-127 reads as rewritten:
21 "SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act is effective when it becomes law and expires six months
22 after the date the Governor signs an executive order rescinding Executive Order No. 116,
23 Declaration of a State of Emergency to Coordinate Response and Protective Actions to Prevent
24 the Spread of COVID-19. June 30, 2024. Section 2 of this act is effective when it becomes law
25 and expires June 30, 2023. 2026. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law."
26 SECTION 2. The North Carolina Child Care Commission (Commission) shall
27 complete recommendations for quality rating improvement system (QRIS/Star-Rating System)
28 reform by March 31, 2024, and submit its QRIS reform recommendations to the Joint Legislative
29 Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services before the 2024 Legislative Session begins.
30 The Commission's QRIS reform recommendations shall include accreditations from national
31 early childhood education (ECE) accreditation organizations as an alternative pathway for
32 licensed child care programs to earn a star rating equivalent to each accreditation's standards,
33 including accreditations from any of the following organizations:
34 (1) National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
35 Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation.
*DRH40180-LU-30A*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 (2) National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs
2 (NAC).
3 (3) National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA).
4 (4) National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).
5 (5) American Montessori Society (AMS).
6 (6) International Montessori Council (IMC).
7 (7) Cognia (formerly AdvanceED).
8 SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law.
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