Early Edge is proud to co-sponsor AB 753 (Garcia) to provide a pathway for Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teachers to serve infants and toddlers. Quality child care provides a setting where young children can engage in educational and social activities that foster cognitive, emotional, and social development. Without these opportunities, they may miss out on critical learning experiences that prepare them for school and life. In addition, when families cannot access child care, their economic mobility is often limited.
Child care providers are currently struggling to hire a sufficient number of qualified teachers to keep all classrooms fully staffed and open. Furthermore, the lack of care available for infants and toddlers is acute across the state. Compounding the problem are lengthy licensing wait times.
The demand for new child care slots is apparent–according to the California Budget and Policy Center, only 14% of eligible children currently have access to ECE programs–as close to 2 million children are waiting to receive care. However, child care programs do not have a sufficient number of teachers to staff current classrooms, let alone new classrooms, and are therefore disincentivized from applying for these new contracts.
In a report released in 2022 by Child Care Resource Center, 88% of programs reported having staff leave the field for better wages and benefits. Programs also reported a range of 20%-52% decline in staffing, with one program closing an entire location due to insufficient staff. It has been widely acknowledged that the current situation is not sustainable for providers and for families.
Specifically, this bill would:
- Authorize childcare and preschool programs to hire an interim associate teacher and provide them with 2 years from their hire date to obtain a Child Development Associate Teacher Permit, or equivalent permit. As a condition, the interim associate teacher must have at least six units from an accredited institution of higher education in early childhood education, child development, or human development, or a combination thereof towards their Child Development Associate Teacher Permit or equivalent and there can be no more than one interim associate teacher pursuant to this provision allowed to work per classroom.
Author: Assemblymember Robert Garcia
EdSource Commentary: It’s time to prioritize our youngest Californians | co-authored by Early Edge and Kidango (3/17/25)
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