Vermont has never been closer to achieving an equitable, affordable, quality early childhood education system, but things have also never been harder for families or for Vermont’s early childhood education work force. Across Vermont, programs are desperate to attract and retain early childhood educators in order to remain open, and families cite lack of child care as a key barrier to returning to work. Those families who do have access to child care often still struggle to afford it, and early childhood educators continue to be underpaid and undervalued.
The Alliance supports the work of Let’s Grow Kids and Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children to address these needs by continuing on the path laid by last year’s child care bill, H.171, and responding to Vermont’s urgent child care workforce crisis.
LEAD ORGANIZATIONS: Let’s Grow Kids and Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children