*this portion of our website it taken directly from The Vermont Early Childhood Alliance's end of the year letter to it's constituents: 

The 2013 Legislative Session has ended with mixed results on behalf of children in Vermont.  

Child Care Financial Assistance Program
We began the session with Governor Shumlin’s proposal of a $16.7 M investment into the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP).  The vision behind the statement exemplifies the type of leadership on behalf of young children that any advocate could hope for.

Although the early childhood community overwhelmingly supported the investment, the proposal to utilize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as the funding source was challenging.  There was deep concern that redirecting funds from the EITC to fund the CCFAP would jeopardize the economic security of young children living in low-income families. This concern hindered advocacy for the investment by many organizations and individuals across the state.  Additionally, the leadership in the statehouse sent a strong message that EITC was an unacceptable funding source. Many feared that any investment would be lost. 

Seeking common ground, the Alliance convened stakeholders to determine how to best advocate for Vermont’s young children.  Our position urged legislators to support Governor Shumlin’s proposed $16.7 M investment by seeking alternative funding sources.  

The final result was a $5 M investment into the child care system for FY 2014 without the use of the EITC.  The investment includes:

• $3.4 M for STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) incentives, CCFAP caseload increases and bringing the CCFAP income eligibility guidelines to 2012 federal poverty levels; and,
• $1.6 M for CCFAP, including $600,000 to bring the income eligibility guidelines to 2013 federal poverty levels beginning in July 2013 and the remainder to increase the provider rate by 3% starting in November 2013.

We can all agree that $5M is a step in the right direction, however, there is a critical need for increased funding of the CCFAP to adequately support the healthy development of young children.  Thanks to the Alliance supporters who kept pressure on the importance of the issue by communicating steadily with their legislators throughout the session. The Alliance’s work on this issue will continue this summer with a look to the 2014 legislative session. 

Publicly Funded Prekindergarten
Alliance supporters have worked for a decade to improve access to publicly funded, quality prekindergarten programming for Vermont’s children.  Our work has contributed to an elevated understanding among Vermonters and policymakers that educational programming for young children is imperative to healthy cognitive and social-emotional development that establishes a strong foundation for lifelong learning.  

This public awareness and the dedication of many advocates and legislators led to the crafting of the Pre-K bill, H.270, this session.  Thanks in part to our work, the bill:

• Maintains and ensures high quality standards for participating prekindergarten programs;
• Protects the needs of families with young children regarding access to both prekindergarten education and high quality child care; and
• Ensures that districts have the ability to consider what geographic model will work for their community.  

Over the course of the session, H.270 was considered by and passed the House.  With only two weeks left to the session, the Alliance worked with legislators and other advocates to try to move the bill through the Senate in time to pass this year.  The bill passed through the Education and Finance Committees, but unfortunately did not arrive in the Senate Appropriations Committee in time for the fiscal implications to be considered.  

The Alliance will engage with H.270 when activity resumes next year, in the second year of the legislative biennium.

The Alliance is very pleased that the bill progressed so far this year and applauds the House for its diligence in crafting a strong bill.  Thanks are due to all of the Alliance supporters who participated in mid-session strategy calls and who, by doing so, helped to ensure that H.270 will improve equity and access to high quality prekindergarten education for Vermont’s children.  

Advocate Appreciation
The Alliance staff commends the early childhood community who worked tirelessly on these political opportunities – among numerous other issues that affect early childhood - this session. Your communications with legislators were vital to affecting the outcomes of the decision making process and on-going dialogue in your communities engaged new stakeholders in understanding the issues and getting involved.

Sincerely,
The Alliance Team
Lindsay, Kelly & Robyn

Increasing the number of Child Care Licensors
Legislators included $116,000 in Vermont's FY 2013 budget for 2 more child care licensors which adds to Vermont's ability to ensure a minimum level of quality in home and center-based child care program as the first line of protection in keeping children healthy and safe.

Increasing access to Early Education
Legislators passed language that directs Building Bright Futures to develop recommendations for increasing access to high quality early care and education that promotes equitable opportunities throughout the state and determines the best way to use community-based child care and education programs.

Professional Developement
Legislators dedicated $100,000 from Vermont’s Workforce Education Training Fund to expand professional opportunities for the early childhood and afterschool workforce.

H.228 Quality Child Care
To provide quality and stability in child care settings, pre-kindergarten and after-school programs, Vermont must recruit and retain a skilled workforce and support programs to meet quality standards. The House Committee on Human Servicesis taking testimony on a bill that would create a legislative task force on improving the quality of early care and education. To get involved in this issue, contact Kelly Ault (802-272-0795; [email protected]).

S.53 Publicly Funded Pre-Kindergarten Programs
Act 62 offers communities a way to increase access to high quality education for 3 and 4 year olds through public and private school programs or child care centers. A bill that passed the Senate and is now in the House Education Committee would remove the statutory cap that currently limits the number of children that can be served. To get involved in this issue, contact Kelly Ault (802-272-0795; [email protected])

S.15 Insurance Coverage for Midwifery Services Home Births
A bill that passed the Senate and is now in the House Committee on Health Care would mandate health insurance plans or health benefit plans to cover maternity benefits and services rendered by a midwife. To get involved, contact Laura Peer ([email protected])

Pre-Kindergarten Survey
Take our online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/K5PYPSS 

Child Care Subsidy Program
What’s The Issue? Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program was designed to provide child care tuition to low-to moderate-income parents, who are working, seeking employment, or in job training. Although the Department of Children and Families significantly updated the income eligibility guidelines beginning in January 2010, current funding levels still leave significant gaps in the program: supporting quality care, providing access to infant/toddler care, assisting families in crisis, and for families above 200% of the federal poverty level ($44,000). A new fee scale can be found at: http://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/child_care_fap/changes

During a recession, we must do everything we can to help parents find work and remain employed and access to child care is critical to the state’s economic recovery. At a minimum, Vermonters need to maintain the total amount of existing funding for Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program.

Parent groups have been or will be meeting in Bennington (2/10), Burlington, Newport, Morrisville (2/2) and Brattleboro (TBD) to share experiences with affording quality child care and other barriers, and design ways to advocate to legislators for change where the system falls short. To join a meeting or get involved in the issue, contact Kelly Ault ([email protected] or 802-272-0795).

Pre-Kindergarten – Act 62
The Vermont legislature passed Act 62 in 2007, codifying the long-standing practice of allowing school districts to get education fund dollars for 3 to 5 years olds being served in quality pre-kindergarten programs in schools or child care providers.

A bill, S.193, was introduced that proposed additional requirements that school districts and supervisory unions would have to meet under Act 62 before deciding to create or expand a pre-k program. The bill also recommends loosening some of the quality requirements in Act 62. In response, parents have been submitting letters and providing testimony to the Senate Education Committee about positive experiences their family has had in a publicly funded pre-k program either in a school or with a child care provider. Submit additional stories: www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your-story.html.

Many school districts could have 3 to 5 year olds added to the school census before reaching the “cap,” but often encounter barriers when considering expanding pre-kindergarten programs. Act 62 allows partnerships with qualified child care providers that offer a pre-kindergarten program. Parents and providers in Barre City/Town, Morrisville/Stowe, Rutland City/Town, White River Junction are meeting to assess the community capacity to expand quality, publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs. To join a meeting contact Kelly Ault: 272-0795

Paid Sick Days
Many Vermont employers  protect family economic security and a stable workforce by provide flexibility in work schedules when employees, their children, or their elders get sick or allow them to take measures to prevent illness. Over 106,000 working Vermonters, however, do not have a single paid sick day.

H.382, An Act Relating to Absence from Work for Health Care and Safety, calls for paid sick days up to 56 hours over a year to Vermont workers. This time could be used to recover from an illness or injury, care for a family member, obtain health care (or seek care for a family member) or take necessary steps for a family member’s safety as a result of abuse. H. 382 is currently being debated in the House Committee on General, House and Military Affairs. Do you have paid sick days or wish you did? Submit your story online: www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your-story.html