KCTCS has early childhood education programs in many of its schools, preparing students for careers in early childhood education.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Early childhood education is a critical industry in dire need of more funding and more staff.
And the head of Kentucky's largest postsecondary institution said he wants to contribute more to the solution.
Ryan Quarles is nearly 70 days into his new role as president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), overseeing more than 70 campuses.
This includes Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC).
“Access to childcare has always been an issue, but it has become more acute in recent years, and we want to be part of the solution,” he said.
Quarles took WHAS11 on a tour of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Information Technology.
“Right now, even in downtown Louisville, there's a demand for jobs for people who know how to use their hands,” he said.
We also work with the youngest people in our community.
“Access to affordable, high-quality child care remains the biggest hurdle in Kentucky's workforce development crisis,” Quarles said.
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KCTCS implements early childhood education programs in many schools, preparing students for careers in early childhood education. Now, a bill is moving through the Kentucky Senate that seeks to expand that effort.
“I know our policymakers want to take action on this,” Quarles said.
The Horizons Act requires KCTCS to offer an associate degree program specifically to teach students how to start and manage these child care centers. As we know, that is not enough.
“We are very proactive and are looking to build a program that will allow Kentuckians to earn an associate's or technical degree while also addressing the day care needs that we know are holding people back from entering the workforce. I'm open to strategies and good ideas,” Quarles said. .
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The bill requires the curriculum to include business design, budgeting, marketing, and, of course, hiring and managing staff.
“We want KCTCS to be able to provide solutions in this area,” Quarles said.
We also plan to establish a work-ready scholarship program in this field to remove financial constraints. However, the bill's high price tag could be one of the biggest hurdles for lawmakers to overcome.
The early childhood education bill, or Horizons Act, also provides grants to education providers to offset rising wage and material costs. Another fund will provide start-up capital to childcare providers in private homes and businesses in childcare deserts.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Danny Carroll, calls for the $300 million investment to be split over the next two years.
The bill passed a Senate committee but still needs to pass the full Senate before it can be considered in the House.
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