We are supporting Advocacy that improves the lives of Vermont's young children, families, and providers
The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide coalition of early childhood professionals and providers, parents, and employers working together to improve public policies that impact young children from birth to age eight on issues of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early childhood education.
2026 Alliance Annual Membership Meeting - Registration Open
Join early childhood advocates and policy leaders from around the state on the afternoon of June 4 at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich for the Alliance’s Annual Membership Meeting.
The event starts at 12:30 pm with registration, followed by workshops on the results of Alliance’s 2026 Legislative Agenda and an information session for new Alliance members. The Meeting will also feature elections for seats on the Alliance Steering Committee.
The Meeting program will feature two important, timely conversations:
- Comments from the staff of Rep. Becca Balint about the status of work on the next federal budget, which is scheduled to take effect on October 1, and
- A Lieutenant Governor candidate forum
We are excited that all four declared candidates for Lt. Gov. are planning to attend the forum. Please help us shape this event! We would like your suggestions for questions to ask the candidates. Submit your ideas by Friday May 8th when you register for the Meeting on the Registration page.
The Meeting concludes with a social hour and an opportunity to network with other members of the early childhood community.
Visit our website for more information and to view the agenda.
Join a group of peers and colleagues from the early childhood community to engage in sustained learning about anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. The Alliance hosts a monthly, salon-style Equity Discussion Group via Zoom, and the next session is coming up on Friday, May 29, at 1:00 pm.
Due to popular demand, this month we will once again feature the innovative work of Tessa Dearborn and her colleagues at Red Cover Children’s Center in Middlebury. A number of folks let us know they were unable to attend last month’s session, and we hope more will be able to join us later this month for a conversation that is sure to be both timely and thought-provoking.
Our discussion will focus on what it means to care for and protect marginalized children, particularly immigrant children and children of color, within early childhood settings. Together, we will explore the differences in how children experience care, the real impact of those differences, and how we as educators can show up with greater awareness, intention, and accountability.
This conversation will also center how we partner with families in honest and collaborative ways—recognizing both where we are doing well and where growth is needed to ensure all children are safe, valued, and truly seen.
Our discussion will be led by Tessa Dearborn, Executive Director of Red Clover Children’s Center and 2025 Equity x Young Children Fellow with VT AEYC, whose work focuses on transforming awareness of bias and privilege into meaningful, accountable practice.
2026 Legislative Agenda
The Alliance’s Legislative Agenda is crafted annually in partnership with early childhood organizations that are advancing policy solutions through the legislative process related to health, safety, food security, economic security, and early childhood education. The issues on our ‘26 Agenda were selected by the Alliance’s 21-member Steering Committee. One or more lead organizations will direct legislative and advocacy strategy on each issue.
A downloadable PDF of this year’s Legislative Agenda is available on the Alliance’s website.
For questions, please contact Matt Levin, Executive Director at matt@vecaa.org.
2025 Legislative Agenda Results
The 2025 legislative session has gone into overtime, and as of early June discussions regarding the possible redesign of the state’s Pre-K to 12 education system have not yet concluded. Most other legislative business was concluded by the end of May.
Overall, it was a moderately successful session for the early childhood community and for the issues on the Alliance’s 2025 Legislative Agenda. While the usual budget limitations meant some requests were unfunded, important victories occurred in a number of areas. In some areas where progress was made, efforts will need to continue next year to secure full legislative approval.
Alliance staff will be working over the summer and fall with our members on ongoing and potential future campaigns, as we make plans for advocacy in the second year of the biennium. We are also preparing for potential work this fall on responses to any federal funding cuts that are agreed to in Washington, DC.
Visit the Alliance website to see more details about the results for each issue. A downloadable PDF is also available here.
For more information on any of these issues, get in touch with the lead organizations listed below or with Matt Levin, Alliance Executive Director, at matt@vecaa.org.
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