The Passage of ACT 62 by the Legislature last spring was a series of compromises on a controversial idea that’s already been put into practice for years in many school districts in Vermont: funding early childhood education.
Even before the bill’s passage, half the districts in the state already provided some sort of programs for 3 and 4-year olds. But the discussion surrounding this bill’s passage has seriously worried some home child care providers.
Jim Squires oversees the Early Education Initiative for the Vermont Department of Education. Sherry Carlson is the Director of Early Childhood Programs with the Greater Burlington YMCA. Retta Dunlap is Executive Director of Vermonters for Better Education. They spoke with VPR’s Jane Lindholm about the bill and what’s at stake.