EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Building on Our Child Care Progress
Vermont is in the midst of a child care transformation. Since Act 76 was passed in 2023, increased public investment has lowered child care costs for thousands of families, increased compensation for early childhood educators, and allowed new programs to open and existing programs to expand. Over the past two years, over 100 new child care programs have opened, over 1,700 new child care spaces have been created, and child care tuition assistance enrollment has increased by 63%. But families are still spending too much on child care, programs need more staff, and businesses rely on a strong workforce to succeed.
The Alliance supports Let’s Grow Kids Action Network and the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children in their efforts to protect child care funding in the state budget; increase access and affordability for children and families; and strengthen the early childhood education workforce.
Lead Organizations: Let’s Grow Kids Action Network (LGKAN) and Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC)
Data and Talking Points
- Child care tuition assistance enrollment has increased by 63% over the last two years, meaning nearly 5,000 additional children and their families have gained access to reduced child care costs