The bill amends Section 42-12-23.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12, which pertains to the Department of Human Services, by establishing a voluntary quality rating system for early care and education programs and school-age child care. This system aims to assess and promote continuous quality improvement in licensed programs, including childcare centers and preschools, while excluding child placement agencies. The bill emphasizes collaboration among various state departments to ensure access to quality care and education for children in Rhode Island. Additionally, it mandates that the system gather and report data on program quality to interested parties.

A significant addition to the bill is the provision that requires that, for school-age child care programs operating in RIDE-certified school buildings, any facility-based elements of observational tools or environment rating scales (including the School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS) or successor tools) be deemed met or treated neutrally, meaning these elements will not negatively impact the program's quality rating. This provision is designed to streamline the assessment process for programs located in certified school facilities.

The bill also includes definitions for key terms and establishes a timeline for implementation, requiring the Department of Human Services to ensure the new provisions are in effect within 180 days of the bill's passage. The requirement does not waive or diminish any licensure or health and safety requirements applicable to child care centers or school-age child care programs, nor does it affect the authority of relevant state agencies to enforce applicable laws and regulations.

Statutes affected:
7905: 42-12-23.1