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Witness from First Children’s Finance warns UPK hour changes could affect childcare assistance eligibility
Summary
Erin Roche of First Children’s Finance told the committee that county-level UPK space availability varies and cautioned that increasing UPK hours for 4-year-olds could unintentionally reduce families' eligibility for means-tested childcare assistance; she also flagged short-term financial stress for providers.
Erin Roche, Vermont director of First Children’s Finance, told the House Human Services Committee that county-level supply-and-demand data show wide variation in universal pre-K (UPK) space availability and that program design choices have real consequences for families and providers.
Roche said the report she cited shows some counties have as little as about 55% of preschool-aged children with potential UPK access while others approach the mid-90s. She noted many public UPK programs are part-time, while privately operated programs tend to be full-time, and urged the committee to preserve choices for families with different needs.
On program design, Roche emphasized that “universal pre k and childcare financial assistance are not, interchangeable.” She explained UPK pays for a fixed number of state-funded hours per child, whereas childcare financial assistance is means-tested and depends on families’ income and care-hour needs. “If you change that and you put them at 20 hours and they have a need for 40 hours of care, they’ll only be eligible for a 20 hour certificate,” she said, warning that changing UPK hour allocations for 3- or 4-year-olds could unintentionally reduce the amount of childcare assistance families receive.
Roche also summarized cost-of-care analysis showing infant and toddler care is often not profitable for centers, and she cautioned that even changes that are neutral or positive in the long run could create short-term financial stress for providers with limited cash reserves. She urged the committee to consider grant and capacity-building approaches that have previously increased preschool spaces as a byproduct of infant/toddler investments.
Committee members asked how Roche’s data compared with testimony from Building Bright Futures; Roche replied that her numbers measure physical spaces (supply), not enrollment, which explains differences in presentation. The committee thanked Roche and noted the testimony should inform deliberations about hours, funding compatibility and possible unintended consequences for families.
