On Thursday, Sept. 11, Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol, and Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, met with child care providers from Coastal Kids Preschool in Damariscotta. Sen. Reny and President Daughtry heard directly from early childhood educators about the challenges they face and the support they need to continue this critical work.

For nearly 30 years, Coastal Kids Preschool has been a place where children learn, grow, and belong. The school is a non-profit located in Damariscotta that provides preschool, after school, and summer camp programs to children aged 18 months to 7 years old from 17 towns in the Midcoast region. One third of their licensed slots are reserved for children with special needs. Coastal Kids provides services to children regardless of their family’s ability to pay, and they work hard to make early education accessible for every family in Lincoln County.

“Our kids spend as much time in daycare and preschool before kindergarten as they do in high school,” said. Sen. Reny. “Child care and education professionals deserve our appreciation and respect as much as our secondary school educators, and we should be providing adequate resources so our childcare centers can help our children thrive in their early years. I am a strong supporter of the work Coastal Kids Preschool is doing here in the Midcoast. Thanks for giving so many kids a great start.” 

Since she was first elected to the Maine Senate, Sen. Reny has advocated for greater support for the child care providers who help Maine’s economy thrive. This year, she sponsored LD 1736, “An Act to Increase the Supply of Child Care Services Through the Use of Contracts,” which will increase the availability of child care throughout Maine by allowing the use of contracts between state agencies and child care providers. This will especially benefit families living in rural areas and those with infants or children with disabilities. LD 1736 became law and takes effect on Sept. 24, 2025. 

“We’re deeply grateful for Sen. Reny’s commitment to early childhood education and to the families who live and work here,” said Jenn Caron, Executive Director of Coastal Kids Preschool. “Her leadership has helped shine a light on the challenges providers and families face — rising costs, workforce shortages, and the need for stronger public investment — and has opened doors for more children to get the high-quality start they deserve. Her visit was a chance for us to show how state policy translates into everyday care for young children and to thank Sen. Reny and her colleagues for walking alongside our community as we build a brighter future together.” 

President Daughtry is currently conducting a Statewide Child Care Listening Tour that includes stops at community child care centers, public pre-K partnerships, Head Start programs and nonprofit organizations across the state. The goal is to spotlight innovative solutions, identify gaps in service and elevate the voices of those most impacted by Maine’s child care crisis. Parents, businesses and early educators are invited to complete a survey to share their experiences: www.tinyurl.com/supportkidssupportmaine.

The insights gathered will help inform future legislation and policy aimed at expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care for all Maine families. 

Sen. Reny represents Maine Senate District 13, which includes most of Lincoln County and the towns of Washington and Windsor.