Child‑care organizers urge support for S.206 this week

S.206 would move licensure of early childhood educators to the Office of Professional Regulation and establish a Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators made up of nine members—seven early childhood educators and two public members. (legislature.vermont.gov) The bill text sets biennial license categories to take effect July 1, 2028, and specifies an “Early Educator I” license tied to completion of at least 120 hours in an approved early childhood credential program. (legislature.vermont.gov) Legislative filings and testimony say the measure would create individual licensure for more than 8,000 early childhood educators working in non‑public home- and center‑based programs in Vermont. (legislature.vermont.gov) Let’s Grow Kids Action Network and the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children issued a joint statement after Senate action, saying the Senate advanced S.206 by a 21–7 vote and noting the bill reflects input from more than 1,000 early childhood educators. (letsgrowkidsactionnetwork.org) The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare advanced S.206 on a 5–0 committee vote earlier in the session, and the Senate Appropriations Committee issued a favorable report with recommendation of amendment on March 17, 2026. (vtaeyc.org; legislature.vermont.gov) LGKAN is operating an online Action Center with templates and direct-contact links for reaching senators, and its March 18, 2026 statement encouraged continued grassroots outreach as the bill moves toward further House consideration. (letsgrowkidsactionnetwork.org; letsgrowkidsactionnetwork.org) Sen. Virginia “Ginny” Lyons is listed as the bill sponsor in the introduced bill, and witness filings and testimony for S.206 include Aly Richards (Let’s Grow Kids Action Network board chair), Emilie Tenenbaum (LGKAN executive director), and Sharron Harrington (VTAEYC executive director) as named advocates. (legislature.vermont.gov; letsgrowkidsactionnetwork.org; legislature.vermont.gov)