This bill creates a new statutory section and amends RCW 43.216.755 to establish and direct implementation of a redesigned noncredit-bearing, community-based training pathway for licensed child care providers modeled after the "building bridges" community-based pathway. The redesigned pathway is to replace the existing "provider access to a community equivalent" (PACE) pathway and is offered as an alternative to credit-bearing pathways. The department of children, youth, and families must consult a range of stakeholders in developing and implementing the pathway, including the statewide child care resource and referral network, community training organizations, provider organizations, refugee and immigrant community organizations, bilingual providers, advocacy groups, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and others identified in the text. The pathway must align with adopted early learning core competencies, be available in multiple languages, include culturally relevant practices, be low cost (not to exceed $250 per person), be accessible in both rural and urban settings and offered where child care centers operate and online. The department must implement the redesigned pathway by August 1, 2025. Licensed child care providers may use the pathway, complete community-based trainings, or demonstrate a work experience–based competency until at least August 1, 2035, or until at least ten years after full implementation of all pathway components, whichever is later. Work experience–based competency may be demonstrated after at least three years of work in a licensed child care setting (continuous service is not required), and the department may not require annual in-service training as a condition to demonstrate that work experience–based competency. The change is a procedural and programmatic legal change creating a new training option and modifying existing statutory law; it does not create a new crime or change criminal penalties. Important details are not provided in the extracted text: the content of the "building bridges" curriculum, a definition of when implementation is considered "full," any prior statutory language that was removed or altered, and administrative, funding, or enforcement details for implementing the pathway.

If enacted, Washington will create a noncredit, community-based training route for licensed child care providers that must be in place by August 1, 2025 and will replace the current PACE pathway. Providers will be able to meet licensure education requirements either by completing these low-cost, community trainings (no more than $250 per person) or by showing work experience–based competency after at least three years in a licensed child care setting, and they have until at least August 1, 2035 (or 10 years after full implementation) to comply; the department cannot require annual in‑service training as part of that work‑experience demonstration. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families must design the pathway in consultation with resource and referral networks, community training organizations, advocacy groups, and others, and trainings must be aligned with early learning core competencies, offered in multiple languages, culturally relevant, and available in both rural and urban settings and online. Practically, community trainers and statewide organizations will need to develop or adapt affordable, multilingual curricula and may face costs or revenue changes to meet the $250 cap; child care providers gain a lower-cost, flexible route to compliance and reduced ongoing training burdens, but key details such as what counts as “full implementation,” funding for developing these trainings, and enforcement are not specified and could affect how quickly and effectively the pathway is actually available.