SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to provide assistance to 
States to improve the knowledge, credentials, compensa-
tion, and professional development of early childhood edu-
cators working with children in early childhood education 
programs. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘early childhood education pro-
gram’’ 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 spe-
cial 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 
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Education at such time, in such manner, and accompanied 
by such information as the Secretary may reasonably re-
quire. 
(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 ad-
ministering childcare, the State Head Start collabo-
ration director, the State educational agency, insti-
tutions of higher education, organizations that rep-
resent early childhood educators, and credible early 
childhood education professional organizations. 
(2) A designation of a State agency to admin-
ister the grant program. 
(3) A description of how the State’s system pro-
vides— 
(A) an oversight structure for the system; 
(B) professional standards and com-
petencies; 
(C) a career lattice; 
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(D) coordination with State higher edu-
cation agencies, higher education accrediting 
bodies, and accredited two- and four-year insti-
tutions of higher education; 
(E) encouragement of articulation agree-
ments between two- and four-year institutions 
of higher education and credit-bearing opportu-
nities and articulation agreements that recog-
nize 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 fol-
lowing: 
(1) To provide scholarships to cover the costs of 
tuition, fees, materials, transportation, paid sub-
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stitutes, and release time for preschool teachers em-
ployed in an early childhood education program to 
pursue a bachelor’s degree in early childhood edu-
cation 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 edu-
cation. 
(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 develop-
ment 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 phys-
ical); 
(B) teacher-child interaction; 
(C) family engagement; and 
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(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 supple-
ment, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local 
funds that are available for early childhood educator prep-
aration 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. 
Æ 
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