Resolve, To Require a Study of Wages and Working Conditions for Child Development Educators and Staff

Sec. 1. Study of wages and working conditions for child development educators and staff. Resolved: That the Child Development Services System, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 7001, subsection 1-A and referred to in this resolve as "the system," shall examine the wage schedules for individuals who provide early intervention or special education services in school administrative units, referred to in this resolve as "individuals." In performing this examination, the system shall compare the working conditions and wages paid to such individuals with the working conditions and wages paid to child development educators and staff in comparable positions in the private sector and in elementary and secondary schools in this State. The system shall determine a wage schedule for individuals that is equivalent to the wages paid to persons in comparable positions and methods of improving recruitment and retention of such positions. The system shall report its findings and recommendations, along with any necessary implementing legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs no later than December 6, 2017. The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature based upon the report and recommendations of the system.

SUMMARY

This resolve requires the Child Development Services System to examine the working conditions and wages paid to individuals who provide early intervention or special education services in school administrative units and compare those working conditions and wages to those of persons in similar positions in the private sector and in elementary and secondary schools in this State. The system is required to develop recommendations for a wage schedule and other methods of improving recruitment and retention of child development educators and staff and submit its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, which is authorized to report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.