Vermont officials defend decade-old universal pre-K and outline limited committee recommendations

Vermont education officials told a joint Senate and House hearing on Jan. 21 that the state’s Universal Prekindergarten program remains publicly funded and broadly available, but changes recommended by an Act 76 (2023) study panel would need more fiscal analysis before implementation.

The Department for Children and Families’ Janet McLaughlin, deputy commissioner overseeing the Child Development Division, said the state program established by Act 166 of 2014 is “publicly funded” and provides a “minimum of 10 hours a week, 35 weeks per year.” She said the program is delivered through a mixed‑delivery model that allows families to enroll children at public school programs or approved community providers.

Why it matters: UPK is a central element of the session’s “cradle to career” framing and is tied to special‑education access and broader early‑childhood systems. Any change to program hours, eligibility or district responsibilities would affect district budgets, community providers and families across Vermont.

Officials highligh…