(a) As used in this section:(1) “Categorical eligibility” means eligibility for child care assistance based solely on an individual's employment in the child care workforce, without regard to the individual's household income;(2) “Child care workforce” means individuals employed in this state by an eligible child care provider in a position involving the direct care, supervision, or education of children, including, but not limited to, teachers, assistant teachers, aides, and other instructional or caregiving staff, as determined by the department;(3) “Eligible child care worker” means a member of the child care workforce who works at least thirty (30) hours per week on average and who meets any additional employment, residency, and participation requirements established by the department;(4) “Free child care” means child care services provided to an eligible child care worker at no cost to the worker, after application of any federal or state child care assistance for which the worker or child is otherwise eligible;(5) “Marketing and outreach vendor” means a private entity under contract with the department to conduct recruitment, outreach, and related activities for the pilot program;(6) “Pilot program” means the child care workforce scholarship pilot program created in this section; and(7) “Scholarship” means financial assistance paid on behalf of an eligible child to an eligible child care provider to cover the costs of child care services through the pilot program.
(1) “Categorical eligibility” means eligibility for child care assistance based solely on an individual's employment in the child care workforce, without regard to the individual's household income;
(2) “Child care workforce” means individuals employed in this state by an eligible child care provider in a position involving the direct care, supervision, or education of children, including, but not limited to, teachers, assistant teachers, aides, and other instructional or caregiving staff, as determined by the department;
(3) “Eligible child care worker” means a member of the child care workforce who works at least thirty (30) hours per week on average and who meets any additional employment, residency, and participation requirements established by the department;
(4) “Free child care” means child care services provided to an eligible child care worker at no cost to the worker, after application of any federal or state child care assistance for which the worker or child is otherwise eligible;
(5) “Marketing and outreach vendor” means a private entity under contract with the department to conduct recruitment, outreach, and related activities for the pilot program;
(6) “Pilot program” means the child care workforce scholarship pilot program created in this section; and
(7) “Scholarship” means financial assistance paid on behalf of an eligible child to an eligible child care provider to cover the costs of child care services through the pilot program.
(b) The department shall administer a child care workforce scholarship pilot program to provide categorical eligibility for free child care for children of eligible child care workers employed in this state after application of any federal or state child care assistance for which the child or family is otherwise eligible to receive.
(c) The department shall enter into a contract with one (1) or more marketing and outreach vendors to conduct recruitment and outreach activities for the pilot program. Any contract entered into pursuant to this subsection (c) must be performance-based and include measurable targets and key performance indicators tied to the recruitment of new child care workers into the workforce.
(d) A marketing and outreach vendor under contract with the department pursuant to subsection (c) is responsible for collecting, maintaining, and reporting data necessary to measure performance against the key performance indicators established in the contract and documenting all outreach and recruitment activity.
(e) The department shall submit the report required in § 71-1-309 for purposes of evaluating the pilot program. The following are the minimum key performance indicators that must be used to evaluate the pilot program:(1) The number of individuals entering the child care workforce for the first time that is attributable to outreach and recruitment activities;(2) The number of eligible child care workers with categorical eligibility;(3) Child care workforce retention rates for each three-year period for which the pilot program is in operation;(4) Geographic distribution of eligible child care workers and eligible child care providers participating in the pilot program; and(5) Outreach efficiency measures, including costs per recruited worker.
(1) The number of individuals entering the child care workforce for the first time that is attributable to outreach and recruitment activities;
(2) The number of eligible child care workers with categorical eligibility;
(3) Child care workforce retention rates for each three-year period for which the pilot program is in operation;
(4) Geographic distribution of eligible child care workers and eligible child care providers participating in the pilot program; and
(5) Outreach efficiency measures, including costs per recruited worker.
(f) All reports submitted for purposes of the pilot program must be independently verified by the office of research and education accountability in the office of the comptroller of the treasury or by an independent entity selected by the comptroller.
(g) The department shall coordinate eligibility criteria and benefit administration for the pilot program with existing child care subsidy programs.
(h) At the end of each three-year period for which the pilot program operates, the department may, subject to available funding, continue or expand the pilot program if the pilot program's continuation or expansion is approved by the governor.
(i) The department shall complete procurement and selection of any marketing and outreach vendors required for the pilot program by November 1, 2026, and, subject to available funding, begin operating the pilot program by January 1, 2027.