The following is a statement from Sharron Harrington, Executive Director of the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) and Emilie Tenenbaum, Executive Director of Let’s Grow Kids Action Network (LGKAN):
“The 2025-2026 legislative biennium was one of historic investment and sustained progress for Vermont’s child care system. Even as our state faces immense challenges around public education, housing, healthcare, and federal funding uncertainties, child care champions in the legislature continue to prioritize investment in child care because of the measurable social and economic value it delivers. In two consecutive budget years, lawmakers stayed committed to building a stronger child care system and the results are meaningful. Their work is leading to new program openings, thousands of new child care spaces, hundreds of new jobs in the field and expanded benefits, and families saving thousands of dollars. The impact of Vermont’s investment in child care is fueling our economy and powering our workforce.
“One of our top priorities this session was to protect child care funding and keep Act 76, Vermont’s landmark child care law, moving forward. We’re happy to report that state legislators stayed true to this commitment. The state budgets for FY26 and FY27 are set to include record funding amounts for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program. This funding goes directly to child care programs, helping them expand and improve quality, serve more children, and better support their staff, while also helping more than 10,000 eligible Vermont families afford and access care.
“We knew heading into this session that expanding access to child care depends on strengthening Vermont’s early childhood educator workforce. The Early Childhood Educator Profession Bill (S.206) is legislation our early childhood educators asked for, and overwhelmingly support for retaining and recruiting the qualified workforce we need. The advocacy of early childhood educators from every corner of the state, representing family home programs, centers, and students, helped ensure strong bipartisan support for the bill in the Senate. In the House, Chair Theresa Wood of the Human Services Committee expressed gratitude for the work done, committed to taking up the bill next session, and noted the incredible value of recognizing early childhood educators as professionals in the field. For years, early childhood educators have called for changes to improve career mobility and stability, which we know will result in higher child care quality, better outcomes for our youngest children, and increased access for families. Our growing coalition of early childhood educators, parents, and business leaders looks forward to passing this bill next session.
“There’s more work ahead but the progress of the last two years proves what’s possible when lawmakers stay committed to child care. Children, families, child care programs, and employers are all better off. We’re grateful to lawmakers for their leadership as we work together for a future where every family has access to quality, affordable child care.”