Early childhood programs.

A. The department shall convene an advisory council consisting primarily of eligible providers, community organizations, employees who reflect the demographics of the current early childhood workforce throughout the state, employee representatives and representatives of the legislative finance committee and the department of finance and administration to: (1) develop an outcomes measurement plan to monitor outcomes for children and families receiving services through early childhood programs; (2) as part of that plan, develop goals and objectives with corresponding indicators that measure whether each of those objectives is reached; (3) as part of the work of the council, a workforce development plan shall be developed to include a career ladder, wage structure and professional development plan that applies to the full continuum of programs within the department, as well as other items deemed appropriate by the secretary; and (4) submit the plan by December 31, 2020 to the legislature and the governor. B. By December 31 of each year, the department shall develop and submit to the legislature and the governor an annual report on outcomes for children and families receiving services through early childhood programs that includes: (1) the number and type of early childhood programs funded by the department; (2) the income levels of families served through those programs; (3) the reasons stated by families for applying for participation in those programs; (4) the number of children served through those programs, including by county and the monthly average; (5) evidence of improved school readiness, child development and literacy among children served through those programs; (6) the number of kindergarten-age children served through those programs who enter kindergarten ready to learn; (7) the number and percentage of children served through those programs who receive regular immunizations; (8) evidence that children served through those programs are served meals regularly; (9) retention rates, wages and certification and education levels of those programs' staff members; and (10) evidence that families of children served through those programs are engaged in the programs.