Orlando, FL – House Bill 1623, the Early Education Workforce Support Pilot Program, was introduced in the Florida Legislature, with State Representatives Dr. Anna V. Eskamani and Angie Nixon serving as prime co-sponsors. The bill seeks to provide essential resources and support for early education professionals through a new pilot program overseen by the Florida Department of Education.
“Our early education workforce is the backbone of Florida’s economy,” said Rep. Eskamani. “They care for and educate our youngest learners, yet they are often underpaid and overworked. This bill is a step in the right direction, but we must continue to push for long-term, sustainable solutions to fully support these essential workers.”
Rep. Angie Nixon echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of investing in those who shape Florida’s future. “Early educators deserve more than just words of appreciation—they deserve real support. House Bill 1623 is about making sure they have the resources and stability needed to thrive in their careers while giving our children the best possible start in life.”
If passed, HB 1623 would establish a pilot program aimed at addressing workforce shortages, increasing compensation, and providing additional training opportunities for early education professionals. Specifically, the bill would:
- Create the Early Education Workforce Support Pilot Program for a period of 2 years to be administered by the Department of Education to provide free early education services to eligible children of early education workers. The Department will also establish eligibility criteria.
- The program would be piloted in two counties that are shown to have the highest need for early education workers based on workforce shortages and access to childcare services.
- The Department will then evaluate the pilot program and share results with the Legislature.
Other states are also pursuing similar policy proposals. Learn more here.