Statement from Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids, on Child Care Progress Made during the 2025 Legislative Session
Statement from Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids, on Child Care Progress Made during the 2025 Legislative Session:
“Bolstered by the support of thousands of dedicated Vermonters, the 2025 legislative session resulted in real, continued progress towards solving our state’s child care crisis. At a time of widespread uncertainty, with reductions in federal funding for programs our communities rely on and a difficult fiscal year for our state, Vermont lawmakers continued to prioritize child care. This is a true signal of our state’s commitment to our youngest children and their families and an important moment to pause and reflect on that good work.
“This session, our lawmakers took intentional steps to protect and build on the significant progress we’re already seeing on the ground from Act 76, Vermont’s 2023 landmark child care law. With support from across the political spectrum, they increased child care affordability and accessibility, which will bring relief to families and greater workforce stability to businesses.
“The FY26 budget includes: a new child care reserve fund to provide more long-term stability to the system, a 5% increase in reimbursement rates from the state to child care programs for infants and toddlers, increased investment to grow the Early Childhood Youth Apprenticeship Program, and funding that will help child care programs participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
“The Senate also passed a bill this session that will recognize early childhood education (ECE) as a licensed profession. This is an essential step forward as we continue to strengthen the ECE workforce and increase the capacity and quality of our child care system. We look forward to working with the House when they take up this bill early next session.
“These are significant accomplishments for Vermont’s children and families, and they would not have been possible without the thousands of Vermonters who came together to raise their voices for continued progress on child care. On behalf of Vermont’s children, families and businesses, we thank our lawmakers and state officials for their continued commitment to this foundational part of the fabric of our state.”