VT
Vermont House Bill H0182

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vermont House Bill H0182 Compare Versions

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11 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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55 VT LEG #379294 v.3
66 H.182 1
77 Introduced by Representatives Birong of Vergennes, Boyden of Cambridge, 2
88 Noyes of Wolcott, and Nugent of South Burlington 3
99 Referred to Committee on 4
1010 Date: 5
1111 Subject: Human services; professional regulation; early childhood education; 6
1212 early childhood educators; licensure 7
1313 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 8
1414 licensure of early childhood educators. 9
1515 An act relating to the licensure of early childhood educators 10
1616 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 11
1717 Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 122 is amended to read: 12
1818 § 122. OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION 13
1919 The Office of Professional Regulation is created within the Office of the 14
2020 Secretary of State. The Office shall have a director who shall be qualified by 15
2121 education and professional experience to perform the duties of the position. 16
2222 The Director of the Office of Professional Regulation shall be a classified 17
2323 position with the Office of the Secretary of State. The following boards or 18
2424 professions are attached to the Office of Professional Regulation: 19
2525 (1) Board of Architects 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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3030 * * * 1
3131 (53) Peer Recovery Support Specialists 2
3232 (54) Early Childhood Educators 3
3333 Sec. 2. 26 V.S.A. chapter 111 is added to read: 4
3434 CHAPTER 111. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS 5
3535 § 6211. CREATION OF BOARD 6
3636 (a) The Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators is created. 7
3737 (b) The Board shall consist of nine members appointed for five-year terms 8
3838 by the Governor pursuant to 3 V.S.A. §§ 129b and 2004 as follows: three 9
3939 public members and two each of individuals licensed as an Early Childhood 10
4040 Educator I, Early Childhood Educator II, and Early Childhood Educator III 11
4141 pursuant to this chapter. All members shall be Vermont residents. The 12
4242 members who are early childhood educators shall have been in active practice 13
4343 in Vermont for not less than the preceding three years and shall be in active 14
4444 practice during their incumbency. The public members shall be persons who 15
4545 have no financial interest personally or through a spouse, parent, child, or 16
4646 sibling in the activities regulated under this chapter, other than as consumers or 17
4747 possible consumers of its services. Appointments shall be made without 18
4848 regard to political affiliation and on the basis of integrity and demonstrated 19
4949 ability. 20
5050 (c) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as initial appointments. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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5555 (d) Board members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. 1
5656 § 6212. BOARD PROCEDURES 2
5757 (a) Annually, the Board shall meet to elect a chair, vice chair, and a 3
5858 secretary. 4
5959 (b) Meetings shall be warned and conducted in accordance with 1 V.S.A. 5
6060 chapter 5. 6
6161 (d) A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. 7
6262 (e) All business may be transacted by a majority vote of the members 8
6363 present and voting, unless otherwise provided by statute. 9
6464 § 6213. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD 10
6565 (a) The Board shall: 11
6666 (1) adopt rules, pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, that are necessary for 12
6767 the performance of its duties in accordance with this chapter, including 13
6868 activities that must be completed by an applicant in order to fulfill the 14
6969 educational and experiential requirements established by this chapter; 15
7070 (2) provide general information to applicants for licensure as early 16
7171 childhood educators; 17
7272 (3) explain appeal procedures to licensees and applicants and complaint 18
7373 procedures to the public; and 19
7474 (4) use the administrative and legal services provided by the Office of 20
7575 Professional Regulation under 3 V.S.A. chapter 5. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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8080 (b) The Board may conduct hearings as provided in 3 V.S.A. chapter 5. 1
8181 Sec. 3. 26 V.S.A. chapter 111 is amended to read: 2
8282 CHAPTER 111. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS 3
8383 Subchapter 1. General Provisions 4
8484 § 6201. DEFINITIONS 5
8585 As used in this chapter: 6
8686 (1) “Board” means the Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators. 7
8787 (2) “Early childhood educator” means an individual licensed to provide 8
8888 early childhood education pursuant to section 6202 of this section. 9
8989 (3) “Guidance” means direct or indirect consultative support in which an 10
9090 Early Childhood Educator III provides feedback to an Early Childhood 11
9191 Educator II. 12
9292 (4) “Supervision” means on-site, direct oversight in which an Early 13
9393 Childhood Educator II or III observes the practice of an Early Childhood 14
9494 Educator I and provides feedback, support, and direction to an Early Childhood 15
9595 Educator I. 16
9696 § 6202. SCOPE OF PRACTICE 17
9797 (a)(1) An early childhood educator licensed pursuant to this chapter shall 18
9898 provide care and educational instruction to children from birth through eight 19
9999 years of age in a variety of settings, including: 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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103103 VT LEG #379294 v.3
104104 (A) planning and implementing intentional, developmentally 1
105105 appropriate learning experiences that promote the social-emotional, physical, 2
106106 language, and cognitive development and health of each child served; 3
107107 (B) establishing and maintaining a safe, caring, inclusive, and healthy 4
108108 learning environment; 5
109109 (C) observing, documenting, and assessing children’s learning and 6
110110 development; 7
111111 (D) developing reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with 8
112112 families and communities; and 9
113113 (E) engaging in reflective practice and continuous learning. 10
114114 (2) An early childhood educator pursuant to this chapter does not 11
115115 include exempt teachers licensed under 16 V.S.A. chapter 51 by the Agency of 12
116116 Education with an early childhood endorsement, as provided in section 6204 of 13
117117 this chapter. 14
118118 (b) An early childhood educator licensed shall have the following 15
119119 responsibilities as determined by license type: 16
120120 (1) Early Childhood Educator I shall be authorized to serve on an early 17
121121 childhood education team for children birth through eight years of age in any 18
122122 setting under the supervision of an Early Childhood Educator II or III or 19
123123 teacher licensed under 16 V.S.A. chapter 51 by the Agency of Education with 20
124124 an early childhood education endorsement. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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129129 (2) Early Childhood Educator II, in addition to the responsibilities and 1
130130 authorities of an Early Childhood Educator I, shall be authorized to: 2
131131 (A) in a nonpublic education setting for children from birth through 3
132132 five years of age, serve in a lead educator role in a family child care home as 4
133133 defined in 33 V.S.A. § 3511 or a center-based child care and preschool 5
134134 program as defined by the Department for Children and Families in rule, 6
135135 providing supervision to individuals licensed as an Early Childhood Educator I 7
136136 and receiving guidance from individuals licensed as an Early Childhood 8
137137 Educator III; or 9
138138 (B) in a public education setting for children in prekindergarten 10
139139 through grade three, serve in a support role. 11
140140 (3) Early Childhood Educator III, in addition to the responsibilities and 12
141141 authorities of an Early Childhood Educator I and II, shall be authorized to: 13
142142 (A) in a nonpublic education setting for children from birth through 14
143143 eight years of age, serve in a lead educator role in a family child care home as 15
144144 defined in 33 V.S.A. § 3511 or a center-based child care and preschool 16
145145 program as defined by the Department for Children and Families in rule, 17
146146 providing supervision to individuals licensed as an Early Childhood Educator I 18
147147 and guidance to individuals licensed as an Early Childhood Educator II; or 19
148148 (B) in a public education setting for children in prekindergarten 20
149149 through grade three, serve in a support role. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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153153 VT LEG #379294 v.3
154154 (c) An early childhood educator licensed pursuant to this chapter shall 1
155155 serve in a supporting role in the provision of prekindergarten services provided 2
156156 in accordance with 16 V.S.A. § 829. 3
157157 § 6203. PROHIBITIONS 4
158158 (a) An individual shall not hold themselves out as an early childhood 5
159159 educator in this State unless the individual is licensed under this chapter or 6
160160 exempt from this chapter pursuant to section 6204 of this chapter. 7
161161 (b) An individual shall not use in connection with the individual’s name 8
162162 any letters, words, or insignia indicating that the individual is an early 9
163163 childhood educator unless the individual is licensed under this chapter or 10
164164 exempt from this chapter pursuant to section 6204 of this chapter. 11
165165 § 6204. EXEMPTIONS 12
166166 (a) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following persons 13
167167 acting within the scope of their respective professional practices: 14
168168 (1) a teacher licensed under 16 V.S.A. chapter 51 by the Agency of 15
169169 Education with an early childhood education endorsement; and 16
170170 (2) an individual who provides consultation services in this State, 17
171171 performs research, or participates in or instructs regular or continuing 18
172172 education courses, provided the individual does not otherwise practice in this 19
173173 State. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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178178 (b) This chapter shall not be construed to limit or restrict in any manner the 1
179179 right of a practitioner of another profession or occupation from carrying on in 2
180180 the usual manner any of the functions incidental to that profession or 3
181181 occupation. 4
182182 Subchapter 2. Board of Early Childhood Educators 5
183183 * * * 6
184184 Subchapter 3. Licensure Requirements 7
185185 § 6221. QUALIFICATIONS 8
186186 (a) To qualify for licensure as an early childhood educator in this State, an 9
187187 applicant shall have attained the age of majority and shall have a high school 10
188188 diploma or successful completion of a General Education Development (GED) 11
189189 test or an equivalent credential. An applicant shall have additional education 12
190190 and experience in accordance with this subsection for each of the following 13
191191 license types: 14
192192 (1) Early Childhood Educator I shall have completed an approved 15
193193 certificate or credential program in early childhood education requiring a 16
194194 minimum of 120 hours and field experience. 17
195195 (2) Early Childhood Educator II shall have completed an approved 18
196196 associate’s degree program in early childhood education: 19
197197 (A) requiring a minimum of 60 college credits and field experience; 20
198198 and 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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203203 (B) offering college credit based upon an assessment of the 1
204204 individual’s competencies acquired through experience working in the 2
205205 profession. 3
206206 (3) Early Childhood Educator III shall have completed an approved 4
207207 bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education requiring a minimum 5
208208 of 120 college credits and field experience. 6
209209 (b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, 7
210210 applicants shall pass any examination that may be required by rule. 8
211211 § 6222. LICENSE RENEWAL 9
212212 (a) Licenses shall be renewed every two years upon application and 10
213213 payment of the required fee. Failure to comply with the provisions of this 11
214214 section shall result in suspension of all privileges granted by the license 12
215215 beginning on the expiration date of the license. A license that has lapsed shall 13
216216 be reinstated upon payment of the biennial renewal fee and the late renewal 14
217217 penalty pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 127. 15
218218 (b) The Board may adopt rules necessary for the protection of the public to 16
219219 assure the Board that an applicant whose license has lapsed for more than five 17
220220 years is professionally qualified before reinstatement may occur. Conditions 18
221221 imposed under this subsection shall be in addition to the requirements of 19
222222 subsection (a) of this section. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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227227 (c) In addition to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, an 1
228228 applicant for renewal shall have satisfactorily completed continuing education 2
229229 as required by the Board. For purposes of this subsection, the Board may 3
230230 require, by rule, not more than 24 hours of approved continuing education as a 4
231231 condition of renewal. 5
232232 § 6223. FEES 6
233233 Applicants and persons regulated under this chapter shall pay the following 7
234234 fees: 8
235235 (1) Early Childhood Educator I: 9
236236 (A) Application for initial license, $125.00. 10
237237 (B) Biennial renewal, $225.00. 11
238238 (2) Early Childhood Educator II: 12
239239 (A) Application for initial license, $175.00. 13
240240 (B) Biennial renewal, $250.00. 14
241241 (3) Early Childhood Educator III: 15
242242 (A) Application for initial license, $225.00. 16
243243 (B) Biennial renewal, $275.00. 17
244244 § 6224. UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 18
245245 As used in this chapter, unprofessional conduct means: 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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250250 (1) conduct prohibited by this section, by 3 V.S.A. § 129a, or by other 1
251251 statutes relating to early childhood education, whether or not that conduct is by 2
252252 a licensee, an applicant, or an individual who later becomes an applicant; or 3
253253 (2) conduct that results in a licensee, applicant, or an individual who 4
254254 later becomes an applicant being placed on the Child Protection Registry 5
255255 pursuant to 33 V.S.A. chapter 49. 6
256256 § 6225. VARIANCES; TRANSITIONAL LICENSURE 7
257257 (a) The Board shall issue a transitional Early Childhood Educator II and III 8
258258 license to a teacher or director operating a registered or licensed family child 9
259259 care home or licensed center-based child care and preschool program and who 10
260260 does not meet the educational and experiential licensure requirements in this 11
261261 chapter. Transitional licenses shall be valid for a two-year period and shall be 12
262262 renewed by the Board for an additional two-year period with satisfactory 13
263263 supporting documentation of the individual’s ongoing work to obtain the 14
264264 required educational and experiential qualifications for licensure under this 15
265265 chapter. 16
266266 (b) At the conclusion of two two-year transitional licensure periods, the 17
267267 Board, at its discretion, may issue one final two-year transitional license if the 18
268268 licensee can demonstrate extenuating circumstances for not having attained the 19
269269 educational and experiential requirements in this chapter and ongoing work to 20
270270 attain these requirements. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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275275 Sec. 4. REPEAL; TRANSITIONAL LICENSE 1
276276 26 V.S.A. § 6225 (variances; transitional licensure) is repealed on July 1, 2
277277 2033. 3
278278 Sec. 5. 33 V.S.A. § 3511 is amended to read: 4
279279 § 3511. DEFINITIONS 5
280280 As used in this chapter: 6
281281 * * * 7
282282 (3) “Child care provider” means a person program licensed or registered 8
283283 by the Department for Children and Families, or authorized by the Department, 9
284284 to provide child care. 10
285285 * * * 11
286286 Sec. 6. OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION; LICENSURE OF 12
287287 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS; APPROPRIATION 13
288288 (a) The establishment of the following five new permanent positions is 14
289289 authorized in the Office of Professional Regulation in fiscal year 2027: 15
290290 (1) one full-time, classified executive officer for the Vermont Board of 16
291291 Early Childhood Educators; 17
292292 (2) one full-time, classified licensing staff; 18
293293 (3) one full-time, classified enforcement staff; 19
294294 (4) one full-time, exempt general counsel; and 20
295295 (5) one full-time, classified administrative staff. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.182
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300300 (b) In fiscal year 2026, the amount of $1,400,000.00 is appropriated from 1
301301 the General Fund to the Office of Professional Regulation to be used for the 2
302302 licensure of early childhood educators in accordance with this act. 3
303303 Sec. 7. EFFECTIVE DATES 4
304304 (a) This section, Sec. 1 (Office of Professional Regulation), Sec. 2 5
305305 (Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators), and Sec. 6 (Office of 6
306306 Professional Regulation; licensure of early childhood educators; appropriation) 7
307307 shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 8
308308 (b) Sec. 3 (early childhood educators), Sec. 4 (repeal; transitional license), 9
309309 and Sec. 5 (definitions) shall take effect on July 1, 2027. 10