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2001 SESSION

014333928
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 259
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules
on December 20, 2000)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Scott)
Directing the Commission on Early Childhood and Day Care Programs to study the training and retention of child care workers.

WHEREAS, approximately 13 million American children are in out-of-home child care programs, and early child care and education experiences may have a dramatic effect on a child's development; and

WHEREAS, the Center for the Child Care Workforce, in its 1997 report, Worthy Work, Unlivable Wages, confirmed the instability of the child care workforce, the mediocre quality of center-based care available to young children, and the detrimental impact of these conditions on young children's development in five metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Phoenix, and Seattle; and

WHEREAS, wages for child care professionals nationwide have stagnated at a near-poverty level and training requirements are low; and

WHEREAS, child care centers are reporting high levels of job turnover and difficulty attracting and retaining qualified teaching staff; and

WHEREAS, inconsistent care and under-staffing potentially lead to unsafe conditions for children; and

WHEREAS, research has found that child care providers who have participated in early childhood training and postsecondary training provide their students with more learning opportunities and enrichment experiences, and are more nurturing; and

WHEREAS, several states are considering policies that link the professional education and training of providers with higher wages or benefits to reduce the rate of teacher turnover and promote the retention of qualified staff; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Commission on Early Childhood and Day Care Programs be directed to study the training and retention of child care workers.

In conducting its study, the Commission shall examine ways to improve the education, training, financial rewards, and job stability of child care professionals to enhance the quality of child day care programs in the Commonwealth. The Commission shall also review and consider the ways in which other states educate, train, reward, and retain qualified child care professionals.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Department of Social Services, the State Council of Higher Education, the Virginia Community College System, and the Virginia Employment Commission. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.

The Commission on Early Childhood and Child Day Care Programs shall complete its work in time to submit its written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2002 Session of the General Assembly, as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.