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Amend the bill in section 1 in §3740-A in subsection 1 in paragraph A in the last line (page 1, line 12 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "available;" the following: 'and'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §3740-A in subsection 1 in paragraph B in the last line (page 1, line 14 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "and"
Amend the bill in section 1 in §3740-A in subsection 1 by striking out all of paragraph C (page 1, lines 15 to 17 in L.D.)
Amend the bill in section 1 in §3740-A in subsection 2 in the 4th line (page 1, line 21 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "or bachelor's" and inserting the following: ', bachelor's or master's'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §3740-A by striking out all of subsection 3 (page 1, lines 25 to 30 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘3.  Apprenticeships.    Expanding the number of apprenticeships available in early childhood child care. The apprenticeships must be registered with the Department of Labor and offered in partnership with a professional development network that promotes and supports professionalism in the early childhood child care and education field and that is operated by an institution for higher education as defined in section 2053, subsection 4-B and that must meet any additional criteria established by rules adopted pursuant to this section;’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §3740-A in subsection 4 in paragraph C in the last line (page 2, line 3 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "career." and inserting the following: 'career;'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §3740-A by inserting after subsection 4 the following subsections to read:
 
‘5.  Articulation agreements.     Collaborating with local adult education providers of school administrative units, apprenticeship sponsors, career and technical education programs, the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System to create articulation agreements between these entities for the transfer of credits for course work related to early childhood education and to facilitate enrollment in courses that lead to the issuance of a postsecondary degree by a degree-granting institution; and
 
6.  Support for immigrants and those new to the workforce.    Collaborating with local adult education providers of school administrative units, apprenticeship sponsors, career and technical education programs, the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System to support individuals, including immigrants and other populations lacking experience in the State's workforce, who require foundational skills development to enter and succeed in early childhood education courses, including but not limited to English as a second language, literacy, numeracy and employability skills.’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §3740-A by inserting after subsection 4 a new indented paragraph to read:
‘
The commissioner shall collect and review early childhood educators workforce data and, on a biennial basis, conduct a review of the adequacy of the pathways to early childhood education careers.’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment requires the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to collect and review early childhood educators workforce data and, on a biennial basis, conduct a review of the adequacy of the pathways to early childhood education careers. It requires the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Labor to collaborate with local adult education providers of school administrative units, apprenticeship sponsors, career and technical education programs, the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System to create articulation agreements between these entities for the transfer of credits for course work related to early childhood education and to facilitate enrollment in courses that lead to the issuance of a postsecondary degree by a degree-granting institution. It also requires the commissioners to collaborate with these same entities to provide support for individuals, including immigrants and other populations lacking experience in Maine's workforce, who require foundational skills development to enter and succeed in early childhood education courses, including but not limited to English as a second language, literacy, numeracy and employability skills.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)