Providers warn S206’s degree and fee requirements could shrink Vermont’s child‑care workforce

Sheri James, a registered home child‑care provider from Waterbury Center, told the House Human Services committee she opposes S206, a bill that would create a new credentialing structure for early childhood educators. "Creating a second separate board of early childhood educators doesn't add safety. It adds bureaucracy," James said, and warned the measure would impose a $175 initial fee and a $250 renewal fee every two years on a workforce she described as already underpaid.

James also criticized proposed college‑degree requirements, saying they would bar many people — including stay‑at‑home parents considering opening registered home programs — from entering or remaining in the field. "A degree doesn't help me teach a room of toddlers or support a child's emotional growth," she said, and cited Washington, D.C.'s 2018 rules as a cautionary…