An Act to create 48.65 (4) of the statutes; Relating to: the minimum age of assistant child care teachers.
Summary
AB348 would create a new statutory provision governing the minimum age and training requirements for assistant child care teachers in licensed child care centers. Under the bill, a center could hire an assistant child care teacher who is at least 16 years old, so long as the person completes specified early childhood education training within six months of starting the job. The training options include two credits in early childhood education or an equivalent, a department-approved noncredit course, or an assistant child care teacher training program approved by the Department of Public Instruction.
The bill also codifies when assistant child care teachers may provide sole supervision to children. An assistant child care teacher who is at least 18 and has completed the required training could supervise a group alone in a full-day center during opening and closing hours and naptime, but only if a child care teacher is on the premises, and for limited time periods. In school-age programs, sole supervision would be allowed for up to 45 minutes if a school-age program leader or child care teacher is on site. The bill defines key terms such as assistant child care teacher, child care teacher, full-day center, school-age program, and school-age program leader.
Impact
AB348 would change Wisconsin law by moving part of the child care staffing rules from administrative regulation into statute and by lowering the minimum hiring age for assistant child care teachers from the current rule-based standard to 16, subject to training requirements. It would also preserve and clarify limits on when assistant child care teachers may supervise children without direct oversight, while adding a statutory requirement that a child care teacher be on the premises for sole supervision in full-day centers. The bill would affect licensed child care centers, assistant child care teachers, child care teachers, and school-age program staff, and would likely expand the pool of eligible entry-level child care workers.
Sentiment
The available record shows little direct debate, but the bill’s introduction and sponsorship suggest support from its authors for expanding child care staffing flexibility and addressing workforce shortages. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, indicating that it did not advance to enactment despite being referred to the Committee on Children and Families. Because there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided material, the broader sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s purpose and its failure to become law.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the balance between increasing child care staffing options and maintaining child safety and supervision standards. Supporters would view the bill as a workforce-development measure that allows younger workers to enter the field sooner with required training, while critics may worry that lowering the minimum age could reduce experience levels in child care settings. Another likely issue is whether statutory changes should mirror or override existing DCF administrative rules, especially regarding sole supervision and the requirement that a child care teacher be present on the premises.