The bill aims to enhance the operational efficiency of child care providers in Washington by amending existing licensing standards and introducing new provisions. It mandates the Department to implement a single set of licensing standards for child care and early childhood education programs, which must include minimum requirements, address quality issues, consider the needs of various types of providers, and ensure safety. Notably, the bill introduces specific guidelines for maximum group sizes and staff-to-child ratios, allowing for mixed-ratio time where children of different ages can be combined under certain conditions, such as maintaining the ratio for the youngest child in the group.

Additionally, the bill establishes that private schools operating early learning programs, which do not receive state subsidies, must adhere to minimum health and safety standards without the state imposing specific educational programs. Furthermore, it introduces a new provision that allows the Department to waive the preservice requirement for individuals who have previously completed the necessary orientation, thereby streamlining the process for those entering the early learning field.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 43.216.255