AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND EARLY EDUCATOR WORKFORCE ACT (Direct the manage existing workforce development and compensation programs for the early educators workforce.)

S2369

2026 -- S 2369
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LC004593
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND EARLY EDUCATOR WORKFORCE ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Urso, Quezada, Gallo, Zurier, Murray, DiPalma, and Bissaillon

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. The general assembly hereby finds that:
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(1) Young children's healthy brain development and learning depends on consistent,
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nurturing care and enriching learning opportunities at home and in early care and education settings.
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Starting at birth, day-to-day interactions with family members and early educators shape children’s
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brain architecture upon which all future learning and development is built.
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(2) Many of the early educators in Rhode Island earn very low wages even when they
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achieve credentials equivalent to kindergarten teachers and demonstrate effective practices.
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Licensed child care and early learning programs across the state report difficulty attracting,
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developing, and retaining effective early childhood professionals.
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(3) A 2019 statewide survey of early childhood professionals in Rhode Island found that
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over forty percent (40%) of infant/toddler educators worried about having enough food to feed their
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family and fifty percent (50%) worried about having enough money to pay for housing.
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(4) The 2019 statewide survey also found that almost one-third (1/3) of early educators had
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a second job to help make ends meet and almost two-thirds (2/3) reported that they plan to leave
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their early education job if the compensation does not improve. And yet, most report that they enjoy
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working with children and families and many have earned college credits and degrees in child
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development and early education.
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(5) A landmark report issued by the National Academy of Science found that educators of
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young children, including infants and toddlers, need the same high level of knowledge and

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competencies as teachers of older children and that educational qualifications and compensation of
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early educators should be equivalent to those of kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) teachers.
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(6) According to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for
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a child care teacher in Rhode Island was among the lowest for all occupations in the state at sixteen
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dollars and seventy-four cents ($16.74) per hour.
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(7) Since January 2020, the minimum wage in Rhode Island has increased 52% from
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$10.50/hour to $16.00/hour and will reach $17.00 in January 2027.
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(8) Child care programs struggle to meet minimum wage laws and to pay wages that are
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adequate to retain their most qualified educators who have earned child development credentials
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and early childhood education degrees. The child care system, though funded partly with public
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dollars, relies heavily on payments from working parents with young children. Unless public dollars
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increase, programs are forced to raise tuition and fees for middle income families in order to raise
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wages, retain staff, and keep the program open.
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(9) By enacting this act, the general assembly acknowledges the need to sustain and
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strengthen strategies to help licensed child care and early learning programs attract, develop, and
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retain effective educators to care for and educate children.
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SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 117
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RHODE ISLAND EARLY EDUCATOR WORKFORCE ACT
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16-117-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Early Educator
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Workforce Act."
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16-117-2. Stabilizing and strengthening the early educator workforce.

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The department of human services and the department of elementary and secondary
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education, shall work in collaboration to:
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(1) Manage the Rhode Island T.E.A.C.H. early childhood program, the statewide,
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comprehensive, research-based workforce development scholarship program established under §
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16-87-4 to support attainment of the national Child Development Associate credential and
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completion of college coursework and degrees in early childhood education and child or youth
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development.
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(2) Manage registered apprenticeships for early educators that support attainment of
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national credentials, college coursework and degrees while providing opportunities to develop
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high-quality practices through regular on-the-job coaching by master early educators.

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(3) Allocate sufficient funds of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) per year to
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continue the Child Care WAGE$ program, a national model designed to improve compensation,
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education, and retention of early educators by providing education-based salary supplements to
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lower-paid center-based educators and family childcare providers working with children in licensed
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early childhood programs.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND EARLY EDUCATOR WORKFORCE ACT
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This act would direct the department of human services and the department of elementary
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and secondary education to work collaboratively to manage existing workforce development and
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compensation programs for educators working in licensed child care and early learning programs
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statewide and would allocate at least $1,000,000 to continue the Child Care WAGE$ model to help
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strengthen and sustain the child care workforce.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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