Welcome

G&C Agenda #68

The New Hampshire Child Care Advisory Council (NHCCAC) Executive Committee supported the continuation of the Pyramid Model Consortium contract because the program provides critical infrastructure that supports the health, safety, quality, and sustainability of child care programs across New Hampshire.

Granite Steps for Quality is New Hampshire’s statewide quality recognition and improvement system. The contract supports coaching, technical assistance, professional development, and quality improvement resources that help child care providers meet licensing standards, strengthen classroom practices, support child development, and improve outcomes for children and families.

The support was based on the operational and workforce needs of the child care sector and the importance of maintaining continuity in services that providers rely upon. At a time when New Hampshire continues to face significant child care shortages, workforce challenges, and affordability concerns, the executive committee believes it is essential that programs have access to consistent training, support, and quality improvement resources.

The tabling of this contract is particularly concerning because providers have already experienced extended periods without access to necessary coaching, assessors, and training opportunities required to maintain and fulfill Granite Steps for Quality participation requirements. Continued delays place additional burdens on programs that are actively working to meet state quality standards while managing staffing shortages and financial strain.

The Executive Committee also appreciates Councilor Stephen’s continued elevation of the need for recruitment and retention funding for the child care workforce. While those funds are not directly tied to this contract, they remain an essential investment in the long-term stability of New Hampshire’s child care system. Sustainable recruitment and retention supports help programs attract and keep qualified educators, reduce turnover, maintain continuity of care for children and families, and strengthen the overall workforce infrastructure that providers across the state depend upon.

The NHCCAC executive committee also recognizes that New Hampshire’s QRIS system should be reevaluated and strengthened to better meet the needs of providers, families, and the current child care landscape. Historically, participation and utilization of the system have faced challenges, and the Council supports ongoing efforts to improve accessibility, effectiveness, and provider engagement. However, failure to approve this and other related contracts only adds to the barriers providers already face and further limits the state’s ability to strengthen and improve the system moving forward.

The NHCCAC recognizes the importance of transparency and accountability in publicly funded programs and supports thoughtful review processes. At the same time, the executive committee remains concerned about disruptions to services and supports that directly impact providers, families, and the broader workforce infrastructure of the state.

The Council continues to support policies and investments that strengthen New Hampshire’s mixed-delivery child care system and ensure that children, families, and providers have access to stable, high-quality early childhood services statewide.