Senate Health & Welfare Hears Support and Concerns on S.206 to License Early Childhood Educators

MONTPELIER — The Senate Health & Welfare Committee on Jan. 28 heard hours of testimony on S.206, a bill that would create an individual licensure regime for early childhood educators administered by the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR).

Proponents told the committee that licensure would strengthen public protection, provide clearer career pathways and help professionalize a workforce that serves Vermont’s youngest children. "Individual licensure would really benefit the public because it would allow... for the removal of bad actors," Lauren Hibbert, deputy secretary of state, said during OPR’s presentation. OPR and other witnesses also said licensure would give families searchable information about an educator’s qualifications and discipline history.

OPR outlined the findings of its Sunrise review, saying the process involved two public hearings and extensive written comments. The office recommended licensure on the grounds that CDD (the Child Development Division) currently regulates facilities rather than individuals, limiting the state’s ability to suspend or revoke an individual’s authority to work quickly when serious misconduct is alleged.

The bill would create a new chapter in Title 26 and establish an Early Childhood Educators Board to adopt rules and set credentialing details. Proposed credentials…