Attached: ACT 62.pdf, Act 62.Rulemaking Plan.pdf, ACT 62.summary.pdf, Pre-K Rules_Version 5.11 (9_18_07).doc

Act 62, the pre-k legislation that was enacted into law last spring (see attached), calls for the Vermont Department of Education and the Vermont Department for Children and Families to draft rules for consideration and adoption by the State Board of Education. The two Commissioners have convened a stakeholders' group, which has met twice. (See the attached timeline for this rule-making process.) Representatives from three of the six Kids Are Priority One Coalition organizations were invited to participate in this group (see below).

Attached is the most recent version of the draft rules that was discussed with the State Board of Education on Tuesday, Sept. 18th. Please note that the rules will continue to be revised as the Commissioners and their staff receive additional input. Nothing is etched in stone at this point.

If you have comments and/or suggestions regarding this current draft, please email them to Manuela Fonseca at manuelafonseca@education.state.vt.us and Cindy Lee at Cindy.lee@state.vt.us, with a cc. to Kim Friedman (Kids Are Priority One staff) at kfriedman@windhamchildcare.org. While there is no fixed deadline for sending in your comments, it would be advisable to email them prior to October 2nd, after which time the rules will go through another revision.

Also keep in mind that there will be a formal public comment period during the month of January.

For more information, contact any one of us:

Kim Friedman
Kids Are Priority One Organizing Director
(802) 348-9879
kfriedman@windhamchildcare.org
Lead Organization: Windham Child Care Association

Barbara Postman
Kids Are Priority One Policy Director
(802) 229-6377
bpostman@voicesforvtkids.org
Lead Organization: Voices for Vermont's Children

Melissa Riegel-Garrett
(802) 244-5980
child33@verizon.net
Lead Organization: VT Association for the Education of Young Children (VAEYC)

The Kids Are Priority One Coalition is comprised of individuals, organizations and businesses committed to ensuring that Vermont's children get a good start.

www.kidsarepriorityone.org