H-0762.2
HOUSE BILL 1649
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Dent, Eslick, Penner, Burnett, Jacobsen, and Graham
Read first time 01/28/25. Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to child care provider qualifications, including redesigning the community-based training pathway for licensed child care providers; amending RCW 43.216.755 ; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the current community-based training pathway for licensed child care providers to meet professional education requirements required for licensure, called provider access to a community equivalent or PACE, is underutilized. This community-based pathway is not as accessible as it should be and many individuals drop out of this program based on the overly rigorous curriculum and significant time commitment.
The legislature further finds that the building bridges community-based pathway that was discontinued due to lack of funding was an effective community-based pathway that could allow more individuals to meet professional education requirements required for licensure. For those reasons, the legislature intends for the department of children, youth, and families to redesign the current community-based training pathway based on the building bridges curriculum.