SB 1053 - This act allows the payment of incentives to early childhood education professionals based on education level. A new Section 160.277 allows the creation of two pilot projects, subject to appropriations:

1. The "WIN Project" will be administered by the OPEN (Opportunities in Professional Education Network) initiative with funding from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The Project will be conducted in four rural counties for four years.

2. The "TEACH Project" (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) will be administered through the MOCCRRN (Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network) with funding from DESE.

Subject to appropriations, DESE must award funds to the OPEN Initiative to implement the WIN Project , which will make incentive payments to encourage career development for early childhood education professionals. Payments will be made to early childhood professionals if they meet certain criteria regarding employment. Payments will range from $500 to $2500 annually, based on education. The term "early childhood education professional" refers to individuals providing early childhood education for children birth through age eight in center-, home-, school-, and Head Start-based settings.

Subject to appropriations, DESE must award funds to MOCCRRN to implement the TEACH Project, which will provide scholarships to early childhood professionals who meet certain criteria. The scholarships will pay up to ninety percent of school-related expenses and will be renewable.

By December 31, 2006, the Department must report to the General Assembly on the effectiveness of the pilot projects.
ERIN MOTLEY