A bill to provide for a statewide early childhood education professional development and career system, and for other purposes.

Summary: Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states for the establishment of a task force composed of state, higher education, and early childhood education representatives and tasked with planning and reviewing the implementation of statewide early childhood education professional development and career systems.

Includes among task force duties: (1) developing a professional development and career lattice that provides for a variety of early childhood professional roles with varying professional qualifications and responsibilities, including strategies that offer compensation commensurate with a individual's credentials and training support; (2) assisting institutions of higher education to develop articulation agreements that convert diverse training into academic credits; (3) supporting undergraduate and graduate degree programs in early childhood education; and (4) subjecting the system to quality assurance measures.

Directs state grantees to submit their statewide plans for such systems to the Secretary within one year of receiving a grant.

SECTION 1. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``PART C--EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER 
                                 SYSTEM

``SEC. 231. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This part may be cited as the `Early Childhood Education 
Professional Development and Career System Grants Act'.

``SEC. 232. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress makes the following findings:
            ``(1) According to 2005 data from the Bureau of the Census, 
        nearly 12,000,000 children under the age of 5 are in some type 
        of child care arrangement.
            ``(2) The knowledge and skills of individuals in early 
        childhood education programs, including administrators, 
        directors, teachers, and other staff, is a predictor of the 
        ability to provide high quality experiences for children in 
        such programs.
            ``(3) Early childhood professionals enter the early 
        childhood education field through various paths. Some 
        individuals have completed early childhood education 
        professional preparation programs prior to working in an early 
        childhood education program.
            ``(4) The delivery system of education, professional 
        development, and training for early childhood educators has 
        disparate standards and funding.
            ``(5) Funding for such education, professional development, 
        and training is fragmented, sporadic, and insufficient.
            ``(6) Compensation (salaries and benefits) for early 
        childhood education program personnel is woefully inadequate, 
        and creates a crisis in the attraction and retention of high 
        quality staff and directors.
            ``(7) To attract and retain qualified adults to work in 
        early childhood programs, there must be viable career lattices 
        that provide opportunities for continued professional 
        development and increased compensation.

``SEC. 233. PURPOSE.

    ``It is the purpose of this part--
            ``(1) to improve the quality of the early childhood 
        education workforce by creating a statewide early childhood 
        education professional development and career system linked to 
        appropriate compensation for early childhood education program 
        staff, directors, and administrators; and
            ``(2) to create--
                    ``(A) a coherent system of core competencies, 
                pathways to qualifications, credentials, degrees, 
                quality assurances, access, and outreach for early 
                childhood education program staff, directors, and 
                administrators;
                    ``(B) articulation agreements so that early 
                childhood education professionals can have smooth 
                transitions among degrees; and
                    ``(C) compensation initiatives for individuals 
                working in an early childhood education program that 
                reflect the individuals' credentials, degrees and 
                experience.

``SEC. 234. DEFINITION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM.

    ``In this part, the term `early childhood education program' 
means--
            ``(1) a family child care program, center-based child care 
        program, State prekindergarten program, school program, or 
        other out-of-home early childhood development care program, 
        that--
                    ``(A) is licensed or regulated by the State; and
                    ``(B) serves 2 or more unrelated children from 
                birth until entry into kindergarten;
            ``(2) a Head Start Program carried out under the Head Start 
        Act; or
            ``(3) an Early Head Start Program carried out under section 
        645A of the Head Start Act.

``SEC. 235. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants to 
States in accordance with the provisions of this part to enable such 
States--
            ``(1) to establish a State Task Force described in section 
        236;
            ``(2) to support the activities of the State Task Force 
        described in section 237; and
            ``(3) to pay the costs of the activities described in the 
        statewide plan submitted pursuant to section 238(b).
    ``(b) Competitive Basis.--Grants under this part shall be awarded 
on a competitive basis.
    ``(c) Duration.--Grants under this part shall be awarded for a 
period of 5 years.
    ``(d) Equitable Geographic Distribution.--In awarding grants under 
this part the Secretary shall take into consideration providing an 
equitable geographic distribution of the grants.

``SEC. 236. ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 
              PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER SYSTEM TASK FORCE.

    ``(a) In General.--The Governor of the State shall establish, or 
may designate an existing entity to serve as, the State Early Childhood 
Education Professional Development and Career System Task Force 
(hereafter in this part referred to as the `State Task Force').
    ``(b) Membership.--The State Task Force shall include, to the 
maximum extent possible--
            ``(1) a representative of the State agency that administers 
        the Child Care and Development Block Grant;
            ``(2) a representative of the State agency that regulates 
        child care providers;
            ``(3) a representative of the State educational agency;
            ``(4) a representative of the State agency responsible for 
        higher education;
            ``(5) a representative of the State entity that establishes 
        requirements for teacher licensure, certification, or 
        professional standards for early childhood educators;
            ``(6) the State Director of Head Start Collaboration;
            ``(7) a representative of an institution of higher 
        education that awards an associate degree;
            ``(8) a representative of an institution of higher 
        education that awards a baccalaureate or graduate degree;
            ``(9) 1 or more providers of an early childhood education 
        program who represent the diverse range of early childhood 
        education program settings;
            ``(10) a representative of the State network of child care 
        resource and referral agencies;
            ``(11) a representative of a State organization 
        representing providers of early childhood education programs 
        that provide--
                    ``(A) professional development to staff in early 
                childhood education programs; and
                    ``(B) other assistance;
            ``(12) a representative of any statewide early childhood 
        workforce scholarship or supplement initiative; and
            ``(13) a representative of any other entity the Governor of 
        the State determines relevant to the activities of the State 
        Task Force.

``SEC. 237. STATE TASK FORCE ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) Activities.--The State Task Force shall--
            ``(1) coordinate and communicate regularly with, and 
        provide recommendations for a statewide early childhood 
        professional development and career system to, the State early 
        learning council or similar State entity charged with creating 
        a comprehensive system of early childhood education in the 
        State;
            ``(2) develop a plan for a comprehensive statewide 
        professional development and career system, for individuals 
        working in early childhood education programs or for early 
        childhood education providers, that includes--
                    ``(A) methods of providing outreach to early 
                childhood education program staff, directors, and 
                administrators, including how outreach is made to non-
                English speaking providers, to enable the staff, 
                directors, and administrators to be aware of the 
                opportunities and resources available under the plan;
                    ``(B) developing a unified data collection and 
                dissemination system for early childhood education 
                training, professional development, and higher 
                education programs, and providing resources for paying 
                the costs of enrollment and completion in such 
                training, professional development, and programs;
            ``(3) conduct a periodic statewide survey concerning--
                    ``(A) the demographics of individuals working in 
                early childhood education programs in the State, 
                including information disaggregated by--
                            ``(i) race, gender, and ethnicity;
                            ``(ii) compensation levels;
                            ``(iii) type of early childhood education 
                        program setting;
                            ``(iv) specialized knowledge of child 
                        development;
                            ``(v) years of experience in an early 
                        childhood education program; and
                            ``(vi) attainment of--
                                    ``(I) academic credit for 
                                coursework;
                                    ``(II) an academic degree;
                                    ``(III) a credential;
                                    ``(IV) licensure; or
                                    ``(V) certification in early 
                                childhood education; and
                    ``(B) opportunities for and barriers to high 
                quality professional development, training, and higher 
                education degree programs, in early childhood 
                development and learning;
            ``(4) develop a statewide professional development and 
        career lattice providing for a variety of early childhood 
        professional roles with varying professional qualifications and 
        responsibilities for early childhood education personnel, 
        including strategies to enhance the compensation (salaries and 
        benefits) of such personnel, and provide resources for paying 
        the costs of enrollment and completion in the training, 
        professional development, and programs related to the career 
        lattice;
            ``(5) assist 2- and 4-year public and private institutions 
        of higher education to develop articulation agreements and 
        mechanisms, including transforming diverse training, 
        professional development, and experience into academic credit;
            ``(6) provide for mentoring and coaching programs to 
        support new teachers in and directors of early childhood 
        education programs;
            ``(7) provide for career development advising with respect 
        to the field of early childhood education, including informing 
        an individual regarding--
                    ``(A) entry into and continuing education 
                requirements for professional roles in the field;
                    ``(B) available financial assistance; and
                    ``(C) professional development and career 
                advancement in the field;
            ``(8) support programs of institutions of higher education 
        that provide an associate, a baccalaureate, or a graduate 
        degree in early childhood education in order to meet the 
        standards a of national accrediting agency or association for 
        such degree program; and
            ``(9) provide for a system of quality assurance with 
        respect to the early childhood education professional 
        development and career system, including standards or 
        qualifications for individuals and entities who offer training 
        and professional development in early childhood education.
    ``(b) Public Hearings.--The State Task Force shall hold public 
hearings and provide an opportunity for public comment on the 
activities described in the statewide plan described in section 238(b).
    ``(c) Periodic Review.--After submission to the Secretary of a 
statewide plan described in section 238(b), the State Task Force shall 
meet periodically to review implementation of the statewide plan and to 
recommend any changes to the statewide plan the State Task Force 
determines necessary.

``SEC. 238. STATE APPLICATION AND STATEWIDE PLAN.

    ``(a) In General.--Each State desiring a grant under this part 
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
manner and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
reasonably require. Each such application shall include a description 
of--
            ``(1) the membership of the State Task Force;
            ``(2) the activities for which assistance will be used;
            ``(3) other Federal, State, local, and private resources 
        that will be available to support the activities of the State 
        Task Force described in section 237;
            ``(4) the availability within the State of training, 
        teacher preparation, professional development, compensation 
        initiatives, and career systems related to early childhood 
        education; and
            ``(5) the resources available within the State for such 
        training, teacher preparation, professional development, 
        compensation initiatives, and career systems.
    ``(b) Contents of Statewide Plan.--Not later than 1 year after 
receiving a grant under this part, a State shall submit a statewide 
plan to the Secretary that shall--
            ``(1) describe other Federal, State, local, and private 
        resources that will be used in combination with a grant under 
        this section to develop or expand the State's early childhood 
        education professional development and career system;
            ``(2) describe the ways in which the State will--
                    ``(A) coordinate the various State and local 
                activities that support the early childhood education 
                professional development and career system; and
                    ``(B) ensure that individuals working in early 
                childhood education programs in the State reflect the 
                diversity of children served by the programs;
            ``(3) describe the ways in which the State will use the 
        funds received under this part and any other funds available to 
        the State to carry out the activities described in section 237; 
        and
            ``(4) describe the ways the State Task Force will carry out 
        the activities described in section 237.

``SEC. 239. REPORT AND EVALUATION.

    ``(a) State Report.--Each State receiving a grant under this part 
shall--
            ``(1) evaluate the activities assisted under this part to 
        determine--
                    ``(A) the effectiveness of the activities assisted 
                under this part in achieving State goals;
                    ``(B) the impact of a career lattice for 
                individuals working in early childhood education 
                programs;
                    ``(C) the impact of the activities assisted under 
                this part on licensing or regulating requirements for 
                individuals in the field of early childhood 
                development;
                    ``(D) the impact of the activities assisted under 
                this part and the impact of the statewide plan on the 
                quality of education, professional development and 
                training related to early childhood education programs 
                that is offered in the State; and
                    ``(E) the change in compensation and retention of 
                individuals working in early childhood education 
                programs within the State resulting from the activities 
                assisted under this part; and
            ``(2) submit a report at the end of the grant period to the 
        Secretary regarding the evaluation described in paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Secretary's Evaluation.--Not later than September 30, 2013, 
the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on 
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives an evaluation of 
the State reports submitted under subsection (a)(2).

``SEC. 240. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 and each of the 4 
succeeding fiscal years.''.