SB 922
Streamlining and enhancing early childhood education and child care services in WV
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House of Delegates
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to improve early childhood education and childcare in West Virginia by consolidating existing programs like Head Start, Pre-K, and Birth to Three into a single, state-administered system called the West Virginia Comprehensive Childcare Program. The goal is to increase access, affordability, and quality of childcare for families, particularly those with low incomes, while ensuring a smooth transition from infancy through school entry. It also focuses on improving educator training and workforce development within the childcare sector.
Key provisions
- Establishes the West Virginia Comprehensive Childcare Program (WVCCP) under the Department of Education.
- Integrates Head Start, Pre-K, and Birth to Three programs into a unified system.
- Creates a Statewide Early Childhood Education and Care Council for coordination.
- Establishes County Childcare Coordination Boards for local implementation.
- Prioritizes low-income families and children with disabilities for program access.
- Implements a sliding fee scale based on household income.
- Ensures early childhood educators receive comparable salaries to K-12 teachers and provides ongoing professional development.
- Requires annual reporting and independent audits to ensure accountability.
Who is affected
- Working families
- Children from birth to age five
- Early childhood educators
- Childcare providers
- West Virginia residents
Notable changes
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