Staff Qualifications Workgroup

Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1648 (E2SHB 1648) went into effect on July 27, 2025, which directs DCYF to create a Staff Qualifications Workgroup. This workgroup will develop recommendations for improving staff qualifications requirements and will report to the legislature by Dec. 1, 2026.

Workgroup Members

The workgroup must include representatives from the following:   

  • Family home and child care center providers 
  • A child care center provider that is part of a national chain or operates 10 or more sites 
  • The statewide child care resource and referral network 
  • A community-based training organization that provides training to licensed family home providers 
  • A statewide organization representing the interests of family home providers 
  • A statewide organization representing the interests of licensed child care centers 
  • A statewide out-of-school time organization 
  • An organization representing the interests of refugee and immigrant communities 
  • A bilingual child care provider whose first language is not English 
  • An organization advocating for early learning 
  • An organization representing private and independent schools 
  • The State Board of Community and Technical Colleges   

DCYF sent out a survey seeking interested providers to join the workgroup. DCYF received 55 responses and identified 10 providers, representing: 

  • All regions of the state  
  • All provider types   
  • Different program capacity sizes   
  • Primary languages spoken (English, Spanish, and Somali)  

View the Staff Qualifications Workgroup Roster. 

Meetings

2025

Sep. 29, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

2026

Jan. 29, 2026

Feb. 26, 2026

March 26, 2026

April 30, 2026

May 28, 2026

June 25, 2026

July 30, 2026

Aug. 28, 2026

Feedback Opportunities 

Those who are not part of the workgroup can still provide feedback by: 

DCYF staff will share feedback with the Staff Qualifications Workgroup and DCYF leadership.