With over 30 years of teaching experience, Amy Upton prides herself on setting the bar for high-quality early education and childcare. As the executive director of East Side Learning Center in Concord, which operates both early childhood and school-age childcare, quality care is important to her and her business.  So when the state unveiled its […]

Last month, New Hampshire Executive Councilors John Stephen and Joe Kenney published a column in NH Journal explaining their decision to vote down a childcare quality contract in favor of funding the childcare workforce grant. Since then, as new information has clarified the state’s inability to fund the workforce grant, they both said they stand […]

At a bill signing ceremony, New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte said she “still supports” funding for the Granite Steps for Quality and childcare workforce grant programs.  Last month, the Bulletin reported that the state’s Executive Council has continued to vote down a contract that would provide over $1 million to Granite Steps for Quality, New […]

The latest financial challenge for New Hampshire childcare providers started with a heated exchange in the Executive Council chambers.  At a session on May 6, Councilor John Stephen pursued an aggressive line of questioning toward Lori Weaver, commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, regarding a childcare contract.  Contracts between state agencies and […]