| Chapter 361 |
| 2024 -- S 2142 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/26/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE DATA ACT |
Introduced By: Senators Cano, DiMario, Gallo, Lawson, Murray, Zurier, Euer, Lauria, Britto, and DiPalma |
| Date Introduced: January 24, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Legislative findings. |
| The general assembly hereby finds that: |
| (1) Front-line educators working in licensed child care and early learning programs are the |
| backbone of the state's early education and afterschool system. Consistent data and information |
| about this workforce is needed to better support professional development, to inform of policy |
| decisions, and to evaluate the impact of strategic investments. |
| (2) In 2022, one million dollars ($1,000,000) in funding from the American Rescue Plan |
| Act was allocated to the department of human services to establish a statewide early care and |
| education workforce registry data system. |
| (3) As of 2023, according to the National Workforce Registry Alliance, Rhode Island was |
| one of only eight (8) states that did not have a functioning early care and education workforce |
| registry. |
| SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended |
| by adding thereto the following chapter: |
| CHAPTER 114115 |
| RHODE ISLAND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE DATA ACT |
| 16-114115-1. Short title. |
| This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Early Care and |
| Education Workforce Data Act." |
| 16-114115-2. Rhode Island early care and education workforce registry data system. |
| (a) On or before July 1, 2025, the department of human services shall implement an early |
| care and education workforce registry that meets the recommended guidelines of the National |
| Workforce Registry Alliance and includes information about staff who work directly with children |
| in all licensed child care and early learning centers and family child care homes in the state. |
| (b) The registry shall be designed to support communication of important information and |
| professional development opportunities directly to front-line child care and early educators. The |
| registry shall also be designed to help the state gather and maintain information about the |
| demographics and annual turnover of educators in licensed child care and early learning programs |
| by key factors including educational qualifications and age category of children they teach. |
| (c) Annually, beginning on or before January 1, 2026, the department of human services |
| shall produce an annual report on the status of the early care and education registry and the |
| characteristics of the early care and education workforce, including demographic information, |
| qualifications, and turnover data. The report shall be shared with the general assembly, the |
| children's cabinet, all licensed child care centers and family child care homes, and individuals |
| participating in the registry. The report shall also be posted on the department's website for the |
| general public. |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
| ======== |
| LC004213/SUB A |
| ======== |