Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Early Childhood Education Professional Improvement Act of 2013

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.

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)).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.