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 workforce retention. The bill recognizes the critical role that nurturing care and enriching learning opportunities play in the healthy brain development of young children.

To support these goals, the bill directs the departments of human services and education to work collaboratively to sustain and strengthen existing workforce development and compensation programs for educators working in licensed child care and early learning programs statewide. The bill mandates the allocation of sufficient funds to continue the Rhode Island T.E.A.C.H. early childhood program, which is a comprehensive, research-based workforce development scholarship program designed to support the attainment of the national Child Development Associate credential and the completion of college coursework and degrees in early childhood education and child or youth development.

Additionally, the bill calls for the allocation of sufficient funds to continue and strengthen registered apprenticeships for early educators, which support the attainment of national credentials, college coursework, and degrees while providing opportunities for high-quality practices through regular on-the-job coaching by master early educators.

Furthermore, 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.