S570 - Hold Harmless Star Ratings/ERS Assess. Resume. (SL 2021-127)

Session Year 2021

Overview: Section 1 of S.L. 2021-127 directs the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), to not require a licensed child care facility to undergo an Environment Rating Scale (ERS) assessment if the assessment would result in the facility losing a star rating because of the facility's loss of educators and inability to replace those educators with comparably educated individuals. This section became effective August 30, 2021, and expires six months after the date Executive Order No. 116 is rescinded.

Section 2 of S.L. 2021-127 requires DCDEE to lower from 75% to 50% the threshold for the percentage of lead teachers in the program required to meet the "rated licensed education requirements" criteria to earn quality rating improvement system (QRIS) "education points" when the ERS assessments resume. This section became effective August 30, 2021, and expires June 30, 2023.

Section 2.5 of S.L. 2021-127 directs DCDEE to submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by March 30, 2023. The report must contain the following information from June 30, 2021, to January 31, 2023:

  • Number of new high school Early Childhood Career and Technical Pathways programs across the State.
  • New community college and university courses that award college credit towards a degree in early childhood based on work experience.
  • New community college and university courses that allow college credits for taking online health, safety, and nutrition training modules.
  • Information about the Early Childhood and Infant-Toddler Certificate Programs.
  • Number of early childhood educators using T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships to pay for college tuition and the increase in the number of early childhood educators using T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to pay for college tuition.
  • Information about the WAGE$ salary supplement program.
  • Number and percentage increase of early childhood educators with associate degrees in early childhood education.

The report must also include the number and percentage increase of early childhood educators with associate degrees between June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2021.

Except as otherwise provided, this act became effective August 30, 2021.

Additional Information: