Bill 548.

Summary.

The bill incorporates the Family and Community Early Education Centers (CE.FA.C.E.I.) into the regular early education subsystem as community-based public education centers attached to the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación). They serve children up to five (5) years of age and follow the official curriculum and the supervision, evaluation, quality assurance, administrative, budgetary and control rules applicable to public schools. The Ministry has technical, teaching, administrative and budgetary authority over the centers and must provide educational materials, training, printing and furniture before classes begin.

Care provided in classrooms designated for children aged four (4) and 5, and in State-owned premises, is free of charge; Community Promoters may not charge for it. Where Promoters, the community or others have arranged suitable premises, a nominal payment may cover use, maintenance and utilities. The National Directorate of Early Education (Dirección Nacional de Educación Inicial) of the Ministry of Education supervises that payment, which may not exceed $10.00 per month per child. The bill defines a Community Promoter as an accredited community educator and sets requirements concerning nationality, adulthood, identification, health, criminal record, residence in the corregimiento (district), schooling and conduct. It provides a schooling exception for rural and comarcal areas.

Community Promoters would work under a special public employment regime based on progressive job security, merit, professional development, periodic evaluation and administrative due process. Their working day is five (5) hours: four (4) for direct educational care and one (1) for planning, family coordination, reports and training. Each classroom, room or suitable space serves a minimum of six (6) and a maximum of twenty-five (25) children. Promoters would receive pay under a salary scale, vacation, a thirteenth-month payment, leave, social security and other statutory benefits. The bill also establishes teaching and conduct duties, an annual documented performance evaluation, an opportunity to defend and challenge a removal, and specified grounds for removal.

The bill places Promoters in three levels according to their education, with a provision for hard-to-reach comarcal areas. Advancement takes account of education, experience, performance and continuing training, and allows entry into the teaching career under the law. The Ministry of Education would provide scholarships, promotions and other incentives. Selection entails an open call, verification of requirements, competency assessment, nonbinding community participation and final appointment by the Ministry. Periodic teaching supervision is carried out by the regional supervisor or coordinator, supported by the school director and Basic General Education supervisor, under the guidance of the National Directorate of Early Education.

Centers outside a school would have a parents’ committee to support their operation, and community networks for early childhood would be promoted. Promoters already working would enter the proposed regime gradually after a diagnostic assessment; their experience would count for classification and incentives. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would issue implementing regulations within no more than six (6) months. Funding would come from the General State Budget through the Ministry of Education and from legally accepted cooperation contributions. The provisions could concern families, Community Promoters, communities and public early education authorities.