Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Staff Qualifications Hb1648 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DCYF to form staff‑qualifications work group under HB 1648; providers sought for representation
Summary
The department described an outreach and selection process for the work group created by House Bill 1648, which extends staff‑qualification timelines and directs DCYF to recommend verification and online training options.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is assembling a staff‑qualifications work group under House Bill 1648 to recommend how the state will expand, verify and document pathways to meet staff qualifications for early learning roles.
Why it matters: HB 1648 extends the timeline for existing staff to demonstrate required qualifications and creates a representative work group charged with proposing streamlined pathways, equivalency options for out‑of‑state credentials and recommendations for asynchronous online training and language access.
Gretchen Starbronig, workforce supports manager, and Brett Skinner, childcare policy manager and rules lead, explained that the work group will include statutorily named organizations plus 10 provider seats. DCYF opened an interest form and said 55 individuals responded; applicants included family‑home providers (English, Spanish and Somali speakers), center leaders and school‑age providers. DCYF said it will prioritize geographic spread, language and cultural representation, facility capacity and avoid selecting more than one representative from the same organization.
The department posted a timeline that requires interested organizations to designate representatives by early July and aims to hold the first work‑group meeting in August. The law requires DCYF to deliver a report to the legislature by Dec. 1, 2026; DCYF told providers it will start membership selection in July and convene the full group and begin deliberations in August.
Gretchen described the work group’s charge: clarify and streamline qualification pathways (including community‑based training, education and experience‑based competency), define merit verification procedures for out‑of‑state education and employment, recommend approaches for online asynchronous modules and language supports, and propose verification workflows that are accessible to tribal and rural providers.
Brett described DCYF’s proposed selection approach: the work group will include the organizations listed in the statute and 10 provider representatives — recommended composition included three family‑home providers, one school‑age provider, one tribal certified program, one payment‑only tribal program and four child‑care centers. DCYF said it will notify selected members by phone and email and will name alternates for the mandated organizational seats.
DCYF described a feedback loop: the work group will make recommendations, DCYF will summarize them and circulate to advisory groups and trusted‑messenger networks (including ELAC and provider supports) for comment, then DCYF leadership will review and finalize decisions for its executive steering committee to approve.
Ending: DCYF asked for input on representation, decision‑making processes and the format of monthly updates. The department said applications and communications will be posted to its feedback loop and invited providers to volunteer to pilot test online content.
