House Human Services hears school leaders’ concerns about funding, capacity and duplicated regulations in draft universal pre‑K bill

Summary

School boards, superintendents and principals told the House Human Services committee that draft universal pre‑K language must address equity, funding parity, capacity in a mixed public/private delivery model and duplicated background‑check requirements before the Legislature advances the bill to Ways and Means.

Representative Teresa Wood opened the House Human Services committee and invited testimony on draft universal pre‑K legislation. Witnesses from the Vermont School Boards Association, Vermont Superintendents Association and Vermont Principals Association presented joint testimony urging caution about implementation timelines and funding design.

The associations said the committee’s intent to improve access and quality is welcome but warned that universal pre‑K has not, to date, solved equity gaps. "In the area of equity, we agree that universal pre k does not now and never has addressed equity," said Sue Zaglowski, executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association. Zaglowski and colleagues asked the committee to ensure any changes include clear rules for oversight and liability when districts coordinate with private providers, because school districts do not control private operators’ day‑to‑day activities.

Witnesses supported…

House Human Services hears school leaders’ concerns about funding, capacity and duplicated regulations in draft universal pre‑K bill

Summary

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