DCYF outlines staff-qualification outreach; a bill would extend experience-equivalency deadline to 2028

Department of Children, Youth, and Families officials told providers they plan to expand outreach and clarify education and experience pathways for child-care staff, and they urged providers to join upcoming work groups and webinars to help shape communications and policy execution.

The staff-qualification presentation was led by Gretchen Star Brunig, workforce support manager; Natasha Reed, a childcare area administrator; and Susie Campbell, staff qualifications coordinator. The presenters described multiple opportunities for providers to engage on changes to qualifications for job roles such as lead teacher, program supervisor and director.

What DCYF described - Work group: DCYF plans a staff-qualifications work group, proposed to start in March and initially meet monthly on the third Thursday from 1:30–2:30 p.m. The agency said it will invite providers, licensors, coaches and community partners to advise on clearer messaging and removal of barriers. - Office hours and webinars: DCYF said it will continue monthly office hours with licensors, add office hours with coaches, and begin quarterly webinars for primary contacts (center directors, assistant directors, program supervisors and family-home licensees) offered in English, Spanish and Somali in evening or weekend slots. - Quick-reference materials: The agency showed a one-page QR-code handout concept linking job roles to higher-education pathways, the PACE pathway (a community-based short certificate) and an experience-equivalency route tied to a deadline (Aug. 1, 2026 currently for one pathway). The QR-codes would link to college portals and Merit navigation resources.

Provider concerns raised Providers asked whether PACE coursework can be stacked or articulated into higher education credit so that a lead teacher who later seeks a program-supervisor or director role does not have to start from scratch. Susie Campbell said articulation depends on college agreements and that changes would require those institutions to alter articulation agreements. "It's a conversation that can be had," Campbell said.

Providers also pressed for more access to PACE trainings, noting limited class capacity and regionally constrained offerings. DCYF officials said availability is being tracked and will be raised with contractors.

Budget context and statutory change under review Nicole (Early Learning Division) said subsidy rates and budget constraints were recurring themes at regional childcare forums and cautioned that some legislative proposals would cut market-rate targets, noting the department operates within current budget realities.

DCYF also noted a bill receiving a public hearing that would extend the deadline for using experience as an equivalency for staff qualifications and broaden experience-equivalency eligibility to directors, assistant directors and program supervisors. The agency described the proposed deadline extension as moving compliance to Aug. 1, 2028, and said the measure would create a staff-qualifications advisory group with a final report due Dec. 1 (no bill number was offered during the session). "The bill would extend the timeline to comply with the staffing qualifications or use experience as your equivalent," the presenters said.

How providers can engage DCYF urged providers to fill out an upcoming survey about staff qualifications, to provide contact information if they want to join the work group, and to send suggested webinar topics to the staff-qualification team. The Merit navigation team and DCYF professional-development staff will co-present on specific training topics when requested.

Why this matters Staff-qualification requirements affect hiring, career progression and program staffing costs across licensed child care. Providers told officials requirements have shifted in recent years and that some current education equivalency paths include courses (math/English) that providers say are not directly related to early childhood education. DCYF said it will consider micro-credentials, articulation options and clearer equivalency guidance as part of the work group's charge.

Next steps DCYF plans to open sign-ups for the work group in coming weeks, post webinars and office-hour schedules, and use survey results to refine the web pages and one-page QR guides for each job role. The department said it will check with its legal/GA team about whether it is taking an official position on the bill under hearing.