The proposed bill, known as the "Rhode Island Early Educator Workforce Act," aims to address the challenges faced by early childhood educators in Rhode Island, particularly concerning low wages and job retention. The General Assembly recognizes that the healthy development of young children relies heavily on the quality of care and education they receive, which is currently threatened by the financial instability of early educators.

To combat these issues, the bill directs the departments of human services and education to work collaboratively to allocate sufficient funds for various workforce development initiatives. This includes the continuation of the Rhode Island T.E.A.C.H. early childhood program, which supports the attainment of national credentials and college coursework in early childhood education. The bill also mandates the strengthening of registered apprenticeships for early educators, providing opportunities for on-the-job coaching by master early educators.

Additionally, the bill allocates at least $1,000,000 annually to continue the Child Care WAGE$ program, a national model designed to improve compensation, education, and retention of early educators by providing education-based salary supplements to low-paid center-based educators, directors, and family childcare providers working with children in licensed early childhood programs.

The act will take effect upon passage.