The Office of Early Childhood shall be the lead agency for child care services, as described in § 19a-77, in Connecticut. The office shall: (1) Identify, annually, existing child care services and maintain an inventory of all available services; (2) provide technical assistance to corporations and private agencies in the development and expansion of child care services for families at all income levels, including families of their employees and clients; (3) study and identify funding sources available for child care services including federal funds and tax benefits; (4) study the cost and availability of liability insurance for providers of child care services; (5) encourage providers of child care services to obtain accreditation; (6) develop a range of financing options for child care services, including the use of a tax-exempt bond program, a loan guarantee program and the establishment of a direct revolving loan program; (7) promote the colocation of child care services and school readiness programs pursuant to § 4b-31; (8) establish a performance-based evaluation system; (9) develop for recommendation to the Governor and the General Assembly measures to provide incentives for the private sector to develop and support expanded child care services; (10) provide, within available funds and in conjunction with the temporary family assistance program, as defined in § 17b-680, and administered by the Department of Social Services, child care services to public assistance recipients; (11) develop and implement, with the assistance of the Early Childhood Cabinet, established pursuant to § 10-16z, a coordinated and comprehensive state-wide early childhood care and education system of professional development for providers and staff of early childhood care and education programs, including child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes that provide child care services, that makes available to such providers and their staff, within available appropriations, scholarship assistance, career counseling and training and advancement in career ladders; (12) plan and implement a unit cost reimbursement system for state-funded child care services such that, on and after January 1, 2008, any increase in reimbursement shall be based on a requirement that such centers meet the staff qualifications, as defined in subsection (b) of § 10-16p; (13) develop, within available funds, initiatives to increase compensation paid to providers of child care services for educational opportunities, including, but not limited to, (A) incentives for educational advancement paid to persons employed by child care centers receiving state or federal funds, and (B) support for the establishment and implementation by the Labor Commissioner of apprenticeship programs for child care center workers pursuant to sections 31-22m to 31-22q, inclusive, which programs shall be jointly administered by labor and management trustees; (14) evaluate the effectiveness of any initiatives developed pursuant to subdivision (13) of this section in improving staff retention rates and the quality of education and care provided to children; and (15) report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a, on the status of child care services in Connecticut. Such report shall include (A) an itemization of the allocation of state and federal funds for programs providing child care services; (B) the number of children served under each program so funded; (C) the number and type of such programs, providers and support personnel; (D) state activities to encourage partnership between the public and private sectors; (E) average payments issued by the state for both part-time and full-time child care; (F) the range of family income and percentages served within each range by such programs; and (G) the age range of children served.