Committee hears expansion to Great Start compensation support to include professional development hours

Representative Coulter presented House File 2728, which would revise the Great Start Compensation Support Program to allow teachers’ hours spent participating in professional development, training and lesson planning to count toward the hours used to determine eligibility for compensation payments.

Brandy (Creative Kids Academy) and Cindy Cunningham (LeadingCare) testified. Brandy said the grants were "a literal lifesaver" that allowed centers to retain staff and avoid classroom closures, and she supported counting professional development hours as part of eligible hours because staff invest time in preparation and training. Cunningham, representing family child‑care providers, supported the intent but cautioned about record‑keeping, the program's sustainability, and the risk that broadening qualifying hours without additional funding could lower per‑provider payments if the available budget were spread across more qualifying hours.

Chair West and other members raised concerns about budget sustainability and cautioned that expanding qualifying hours without additional funding would reduce per‑provider award amounts. Representative Coulter said payments must still go to staff who regularly and directly care for children; the change would not expand eligible recipients beyond current program rules. The committee laid the bill over.