iii ) Index salaries for providers against the salary for a typical preschool lead teacher , differentiating base compensation for varying levels of responsibility within the early childhood workplace including consideration of center directors , assistant directors , lead teachers , assistant teachers , paraprofessionals , family child care owners , and family home assistants ;
iv ) Incentivize advancements in relevant higher education credentials and credential equivalencies , training , and years of experience , by increasing compensation for each of these , including early learning certificates , associate degrees , bachelor ' s degrees , master ' s degrees , and doctoral degrees ;
v ) Consider credential equivalencies , including certified demonstration of competencies developed through apprenticeships , peer learning models , community-based training , and other strategies ;
vi ) Consider a provider ' s years of experience in the field and years of experience at his or her current site ;
vii ) Differentiate subsidy rates by region ; and
viii ) Provide additional targeted investments for providers serving a high proportion of working connections child care families , providers demonstrating additional linguistic or cultural competency , and providers serving populations furthest from opportunity , including :
( 1 ) Families enrolled in the early childhood education and assistance program ; ( 2 ) Underserved geographic communities ; ( 3 ) Underserved ethnic or linguistic communities ; ( 4 ) Underserved age groups such as infants and toddlers ; and ( 5 ) Populations with specialized health or educational needs
While the task force commenced work on the cost of care study in 2019 as directed , the study had to be paused after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in Washington . The study required engagement of and participation from child care providers during a time of upheaval and uncertainty as providers faced the rapidly changing conditions that came with navigating the challenges of continuing to provide care . It was not possible to complete the study at that time . In 2021 , the legislature directed the task force to complete the study .
2021 legislative directive Chapter 334 , Laws of 2021 , ESSB ( Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill ) 5092 , Sec 127 pg 76 ( 127 ) $ 240,000 of the general fund — state appropriation for fiscal year 2022 and $ 95,000 of the general fund — state appropriation for fiscal year 2023 are provided solely for the department to collaborate with the department of children , youth , and families to jointly convene and facilitate a child care collaborative task force to continue the work of the task force created in chapter 368 , Laws 9 of 2019 ( 2SHB 1344 ) to establish a true cost of quality of child care . The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1 , 2022 .
2022 COST OF QUALITY CHILD CARE LEGISLATIVE REPORT 28