House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Part I.

Allows a person who completes the career-ready lead teacher academy to receive either a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential or a Provisional NC Early Childhood Credential (was, only a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential) that will enable the student to begin working as either a lead teacher or group leader (was, begin teaching) in a licensed child care program immediately upon graduation. Clarifies that the family child care homes must be licensed. Changes the name of the Credential from the Provisional Early Childhood Care Credential to the Provisional Early Childhood Credential and no longer requires completion of a series of micro credentials demonstrating competency in required child care health and safety trainings in order to qualify for the credential. Instead of working on the micro credentials, now requires the North Carolina Community Colleges System, Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina Center for Afterschool programs, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education, to collaborate to ensure that the required child care health and safety trainings are embedded in each of the required courses so that individuals working to obtain the credentials have access to the required trainings through structured micro credentials; sets a deadline of March 31, 2027. Specifies that persons seeking the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential must have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent. Makes additional clarifying changes.

Part III.

Amends the proposed changes to GS 110-91 as follows. Allows a licensed child care center to use the combined education and work experience of two staff persons to meet the requirements for the Level II and Level III certificate or designation for the NC Early Childhood Administration Credential certificate (was, for the Level II or Level III administrator designation) and amends qualifications to now require the following: (1) one individual must complete EDU 261 and 262 or the equivalent, or hold an associates degree or higher in business administration or a related field, or have at least two years of verifiable business or administrative work experience and (2) one individual must (a) hold an associates degree or bachelors of science degree in early childhood education or child development; (b) be responsible for the center’s curriculum, program delivery, and compliance practices; and (c) must be physically onsite for at least the minimum number of hours required by the child care staffing requirements. Allows any individual, not just a child care center administrator, to earn the minimum mandatory North Carolian Early Childhood Administration Credential without completing the specified coursework when the individual has the listed degree or work experience.

Part V.

Amends Section 9D.5 of SL 2023-134 by amending the bidding practices for the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and all local partnerships when contracting for goods and services to now require for amounts of $25,000 or more, but less than $40,000 (was, $25,000 or more in previous edition), a request for proposal process with solicitation in appropriate venues, including, but not limited to, websites, major newspaper portals, or other options to ensure a strong competitive process.