HB3676 Summary

• A qualified child care director must be present when the facility opens or closes; a qualified early childhood teacher employed continuously for at least 24 months may substitute for the first or last hour of the workday.

• Child care facilities may staff classrooms with early childhood assistant qualified staff for up to 3 hours per program day if documented in the facility's written staffing plan.

• Early childhood teachers must meet one of four qualification pathways: (1) 60 semester hours with 6 hours in early childhood education or Gateways Level 1 credential; (2) 1,560 clock hours experience plus 30 semester hours with early childhood coursework; (3) 2,080 clock hours as teacher assistant plus Gateways Level 1 credential and enrollment in higher education or credentialing program within 5 years; or (4) completion of a Department-approved credentialing program.

• Updates Section 7 to reference the new early childhood teacher qualification standards in Section 6.5.

• Makes technical corrections to the Child Care Act of 1969.