§ 38–274.01. HEI program; DC Collaborative; programmatic and financial report.

(a) The University of the District of Columbia shall establish a Higher Education Incentive Program ("HEI Program") for the purpose of increasing the number of early education teachers teaching in the District, including:

(1) The number of pre-k teachers and assistant pre-k teachers, who meet the degree and credential requirements established by OSSE pursuant to § 38-272.01, working in elementary education in public schools, public charter schools, and CBOs; and

(2) The number of infant and toddler lead and assistant teachers working in child development facilities, as defined in § 7-2031(3), who meet the degree and credential requirements established by OSSE pursuant to § 7-2036.

(a-1) As part of the HEI Program, the University of the District of Columbia may:

(1) Award and administer grants to District of Columbia higher education institutions to increase the number of early education teachers with advanced learning degrees or credentials;

(2) Establish and administer the HEI scholarship program described in § 38-274.02.

(a-2) To assist in the establishment and implementation of the HEI Program, the University of the District of Columbia shall establish and convene a working group, which shall be referred to as the DC Collaborative, comprised of representatives of District of Columbia colleges and universities and the OSSE, and such other individuals as the University of the District of Columbia determines may be helpful to achieve the purposes of the HEI Program.

(b) Repealed.

(d) Repealed.

(e) The University of the District of Columbia shall submit an annual programmatic and financial report to the Mayor and to the Council on the status of the DC Collaborative and the Higher Education Incentive Program.

(f)(1) The University of the District of Columbia ("University") shall select at least 3 community-based child development centers to partner with the University's Early Childhood Infant and Toddler degree program to provide on-site classes for early childhood professionals, with one site offering coursework in a language other than English, sufficient to meet the degree and credential requirements for an Associate's Degree.

(2) The child development centers selected pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection and the University shall coordinate to determine and make available necessary supports for degree completion, including child care for program participants and additional academic, family and financial supports.

(July 18, 2008, D.C. Law 17-202, § 401, 55 DCR 6297; Mar. 8, 2011, D.C. Law 18-285, § 2(f), 57 DCR 11005; Oct. 30, 2018, D.C. Law 22-168, § 4022(b), 65 DCR 9388; Oct. 30, 2018, D.C. Law 22-179, § 202(c), 65 DCR 9569.)

Section References

This section is referenced in § 38-271.01, § 38-274.03, and § 38-1202.06.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 18-285 rewrote the section, which formerly read:

“(a) The Higher Education Incentive grant program shall be established by OSSE for the purpose of increasing the number of pre-k teachers, and assistant teachers, with advanced learning credentials. The HEI program shall consist of a consortium of colleges in the District, including the Graduate School, United States Department of Agriculture, that offers continuing education classes for teachers and assistant teachers to obtain a Bachelors degree or an Associates degree.

“(b) The OSSE shall administer the HEI program and award HEI grants, subject to funding, to qualified teachers and assistant teachers.”

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 4022(b) of Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-458, Oct. 3, 2018, 65 DCR 11212).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 4022(b) of Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-434, July 30, 2018, 65 DCR 8200).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(f) of Pre-k Acceleration and Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 19-4, February 11, 2011, 58 DCR 1399).

Temporary Legislation

Section 2(g) of D.C. Law 18-142 rewrote the section to read as follows:

“Sec. 401. DC Collaborative; HEI program; HEI scholarship program; career and compensation plan.

“(a) The University of the District of Columbia shall establish and convene a collaborative of District of Columbia colleges and universities (‘DC Collaborative’) to craft the HEI program and HEI scholarship program, in collaboration with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, for the purpose of increasing the number of teachers and assistant teachers in public schools, public charter schools, and CBOs who are meeting degree and credential requirements established by the OSSE pursuant to section 201.

“(b)(1) The DC Collaborative shall develop a pre-k workforce development plan, which shall include:

“(A) A clearly articulated vision statement of how the DC Collaborative intends to attract and retain a highly-qualified pre-k workforce;

“(B) Stated goals and strategies based upon a needs assessment of the current pre-k workforce in public schools, public charter schools, and CBOs and a review of higher education institutional capacity;

“(C) The scope and structure of the HEI program and the HEI scholarship program; and

“(D) A timeline and benchmarks for the planning and implementation of the HEI program and the HEI scholarship program.

“(2) The University of the District of Columbia shall submit the pre-k workforce development plan to the Council for review by March 15, 2010.

“(c) As the convener of the DC Collaborative, the University of the District of Columbia shall facilitate the development and implementation of the HEI program, including the distribution of funds to higher education institutions according to their capacity or need, and the HEI scholarship program.

“(d) The University of the District of Columbia shall submit to the OSSE, a proposed career and compensation plan under which a teacher in the CBO sector will be compensated once the teacher meets the degree and credentials requirements established by the OSSE pursuant to section 201.”.

Section 5(a) of D.C. Law 18-142 provided that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.