Senate Education Committee passes early educators' right to organize bill 5-0

The Vermont Senate Education Committee Tuesday voted unanimously to support the Early Educators' Right to Organize bill. The committee chose to pass a bill that mirrors the bill the committee supported last year as an amendment to the Miscellaneous Education bill. The amendment was ruled non-germane on the Senate floor, and so the full Senate did not have a chance for a full Senate vote. This year, the Education Committee chose to offer a stand-alone bill.
The vote occurred at approximately 2:45 pm, and was a unanimous, 5-0 vote, with the full committee present. The Chairman, Senator Dick McCormack, indicated that he will report the bill on the Senate floor. The bill is expected to be referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee before moving on to the full Senate.
"This is a great day for Vermont's early educators and the children and families we serve. We appreciate the leadership of Senators McCormack and Baruth and the support of the committee members. We look forward to working with legislators as the bill moves through the process," said Kay Curtis, director of Happy Hands School for Little People in Brattleboro.
Judy Pransky, director of Emerson Falls PlayCare, Inc., added, "We are grateful for this show of support from the committee. We have had a tremendous amount of support from the families in our community, and are hopeful that soon we will be able to organize together."