Early Childhood Education Professional Improvement Act of 2013

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Early Childhood Education 
Professional Improvement Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to provide assistance to States to 
improve the knowledge, credentials, compensation, and professional 
development of early childhood educators working with children in early 
childhood education programs.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``early childhood education program'' means a 
        Head Start Program carried out under the Head Start Act (42 
        U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), a State-funded prekindergarten program, a 
        licensed child care serving prekindergarten children, and 
        special education preschool.
            (2) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).

SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, is authorized to award grants to States to 
implement and administer the activities described in section 6.

SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Each State desiring a grant under this Act shall 
submit an application to the Secretary of Education at such time, in 
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
reasonably require.
    (b) Contents.--Each application submitted under subsection (a) 
shall include a description of the State's comprehensive early 
childhood professional development system, including the following:
            (1) A description of how the State's system was developed 
        in collaboration with the State Advisory Council on Early 
        Childhood Education and Care designated or established under 
        section 642B of the Head Start Act, the State agency 
        responsible for administering childcare, the State Head Start 
        collaboration director, the State educational agency, 
        institutions of higher education, organizations that represent 
        early childhood educators, and credible early childhood 
        education professional organizations.
            (2) A designation of a State agency to administer the grant 
        program.
            (3) A description of how the State's system provides--
                    (A) an oversight structure for the system;
                    (B) professional standards and competencies;
                    (C) a career lattice;
                    (D) coordination with State higher education 
                agencies, higher education accrediting bodies, and 
                accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher 
                education;
                    (E) encouragement of articulation agreements 
                between two- and four-year institutions of higher 
                education and credit-bearing opportunities and 
                articulation agreements that recognize prior learning 
                and expertise;
                    (F) more accessible higher education for working 
                learners through offering of college courses at 
                accessible time and locations, with particular 
                attention to rural areas;
                    (G) support to adult learners who are dual language 
                learners, or come from low-income or minority 
                communities;
                    (H) use of workforce data to assess the State's 
                workforce needs; and
                    (I) its financing over time.

SEC. 6. STATE USE OF FUNDS.

    A State that receives a grant under this Act shall ensure that 
grant funds are used to carry out the following:
            (1) To provide scholarships to cover the costs of tuition, 
        fees, materials, transportation, paid substitutes, and release 
        time for preschool teachers employed in an early childhood 
        education program to pursue a bachelor's degree in early 
        childhood education or a closely related field.
            (2) To support preschool teachers employed in an early 
        childhood education program, and who have obtained a bachelor's 
        degree in a field other than early childhood education or a 
        closely related field, to attain a credential, licensure, or 
        endorsement that demonstrates competence in early childhood 
        education.
            (3) To increase compensation for teachers who are enrolled 
        and making progress toward a degree in early childhood 
        education and to provide parity of compensation upon completion 
        of such degree and retention in the early childhood education 
        program.
            (4) To provide ongoing professional development 
        opportunities to preschool teachers and teacher assistants 
        employed in an early childhood education program that address--
                    (A) all areas of child development and learning 
                (cognitive, social, emotional, and physical);
                    (B) teacher-child interaction;
                    (C) family engagement; and
                    (D) cultural competence for working with a 
                diversity of children (including children with special 
                needs and dual language learners) and families.

SEC. 7. SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.

    Grant funds provided under this Act shall supplement, and not 
supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds that are available for 
early childhood educator preparation and professional development.

SEC. 8. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.

    A State that receives funds under this Act for a fiscal year shall 
maintain the fiscal effort provided by the State for the activities 
supported by the funds under this Act at a level equal to or greater 
than the level of such fiscal effort for the preceding fiscal year.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such 
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2014 through 2019.

Summary: Early Childhood Education Professional Improvement Act of 2013 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to states to: provide scholarships that enable preschool teachers employed in an early childhood education program to pursue a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a closely related field. Support preschool teachers employed in an early childhood education program to attain a credential, licensure, or endorsement that demonstrates competence in early childhood education if their bachelor's degree is not in that or a closely related field. Increase the compensation of teachers who are making progress toward a degree in early childhood education or who have attained that degree. And provide ongoing professional development opportunities to preschool teachers and teacher assistants employed in an early childhood education program. Requires each state that desires a grant to include a description of its comprehensive early childhood professional development system in its application. Requires grant recipients to maintain their fiscal effort for the activities supported by the grant funds for a fiscal year at levels equal to or greater than their fiscal effort for such activities during the preceding fiscal year.