Dear Editor, We Vermonters are fortunate that policymakers and legislators listen to citizen voices when making decisions. S.206, an act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the Office of Professional Regulation, is legislation that was created using the voices of early childhoo d professionals, parents and experts in developing professions such as nurses and therapists.   The legislation addresses the needs of those in the workforce and those that the workforce serves — families with young children. As a long-time early educator in Vermont, I know of few high-quality educators who do not participate in ongoing professional development activities. The issue is that currently, there is little framework to assist in reaching meaningful credentials and milestones.  As a parent and grandparent of children in child care, I can tell you that parents currently have little to help identify the credentials of the staff at facilities where we leave our children. And, as a former employer of early childhood educators, I know that identifying qualifications for the most important roles in programs that serve our most vulnerable citizens is a challenge. There is currently a shortage of qualified early educators. Since 2023, Vermont has, through Act 76, implemented policies that help families pay for care and help educators earn livable wages, finally beginning to address this overwhelming need.  READ MORE Our aging workforce has been considered in drawing up S.206, and those who are at the end of their careers will be able to continue to practice within a generous transition period. And unsurprisingly, many of our current Vermont early educators already have training and degrees that will allow them to meet credential requirements.  Early educators who care for children in their homes, staff of licensed centers and public school-based programs have all been included in the creation of the bill and will all benefit from being a part of a recognized profession. There is safety and clarity in a system of recognition for a profession that serves the most vulnerable population. With the passage of S.206, Vermont will continue to lead the country in caring for our youngest citizens. LouAnn Beninati, Essex, Vt. Read the story on VTDigger here: A credential system for child care workers is long overdue. ...read more read less