ECDL 2026 Highlights

On March 11, 2026, more than 200 early childhood professionals, providers, parents, employers, and business owners gathered for Early Childhood Day at the Legislature (ECDL), held at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and the Vermont State House. The standout moment of the Day was the legislator lunch, where 74 lawmakers joined attendees and heard directly from Vermont’s early childhood community about key issues currently under consideration.

Hosted each year by the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, this event brings together advocacy, learning, and connection in one place. The day was made possible with support from 15 sponsors, including funders, agencies, organizations, providers, and businesses.

The informal kickoff of the Day began in the State House cafeteria, where advocates used the opportunity to talk with legislators about early childhood issues over coffee.

The formal events began with comments from Elle Oille-Stanforth, Committee Assistant to the Senate Appropriations Committee, who encouraged attendees to fully participate in the process and that their input made a difference in the decisions legislators made every day.

The Day featured issue-focused workshops led by organizations spearheading priorities in the Alliance’s 2026 Legislative Agenda. At lunchtime, three packed meeting rooms at the Capitol Plaza set the stage for direct conversations between early childhood stakeholders and policymakers. Attendees discussed key 2026 priorities, including access to health care and social supports, emergency shelter, child care, and continued funding for programs like Vermont 211 and nutrition programs, among other critical issues.

Following lunch, attendees moved into afternoon sessions that covered a range of topics, including the fundamentals of advocacy, support for child care programs considering expansion, and updates from the Paid Leave Coalition.

We are grateful to all of Vermont’s advocates for lending their voice towards policy change and for their important work on behalf of Vermont’s children and families!

Thank you to everyone who was part of this wonderful event this year. We look forward to seeing you again next year.