Investing in Vermont's Future

Access to affordable, quality child care for all Vermont children is ESSENTIAL for healthy families, a robust workforce, a resilient economy, and a more equitable society for us all.

Together, we can build a brighter future for Vermont.

We are successful in our mission when:

Access: 100% of Vermont families with children ages birth to five have access to regulated early care and learning opportunities that meet their needs
High Quality: 100% of children are in programs led by skilled early educators who are prepared and well-compensated for their essential work
Affordability: 100% of families who need it spend no more than 10% of their household income on child care

Read more about our approach to accomplishing this mission.

Progress on Child Care

We’ve made significant progress on solving Vermont’s child care crisis! In 2023, we passed Act 76 — a first-of-its-kind, long-term investment that stabilizes our child care sector; provides access to more affordable, quality child care for thousands of Vermont families; and helps make Vermont a more affordable place to live, especially for families with children. This new law makes Vermont a national leader in child care. Learn more about Act 76 and what it means for you and your community.

Implementation is happening right now, and we’re already seeing progress on the ground. Act 76 funding helps new programs open and makes it easier for established programs to expand capacity, upgrade facilities, and increase compensation for staff. Below is a snapshot of what’s happening across the state:

Child Care Progress Map

Alexandria Whitcomb’s Child Care Program

Barre

Act 76 funds supported a new outdoor play space and fencing at her family-home child care program.

Myers Prouty Children's Campuses

Bennington

Thanks to public investment, Myers Prouty Children's Campuses opened two new child care programs in the Bennington area, including an infant program with 28 new spaces, an afterschool program with 35 new spaces, and a toddler room in an existing program with 12 new spaces. Across the now eight campuses, Myers Prouty employs 70 educators and serves about 220 families.

Winston Prouty Center for Child & Family Development

Brattleboro

Act 76 funds supported compensation increases for staff.

Cabot Children’s Center

Cabot

A local expansion of the ABC & LOL Child Care Center, this new program creates 15 child care slots and four jobs for the Cabot community.

Lil' Rascals

Georgia

With help from Act 76, Jeremy Mathsen opened his own licensed family-home child care program, which supports 10 families in his community.

Kid Savvy

Hyde Park

Kid Savvy Child Care in Hyde Park expanded from a family child care home to a center-based program with capacity for 23 children. Act 76 funds allowed owner Savannah McKenzie to pay her staff as the new center got started, provide three meals a day to kids, and purchase new toys.

Otter Creek Child Care Center

Middlebury

This expansion, with funding support from Act 76, creates 77 new child care slots and 28 jobs by Fall 2025.

Red Clover Children’s Center

Middlebury

This new child care program creates 24 child care slots for children, ages 6 weeks to 3 years old.

Mary Johnson Children's Center

Middlebury

Mary Johnson Children's Center has used new public investment to raise educator and staff wages and improve the quality of their programs. MJCC is set to expand in the fall, opening a new toddler classroom, providing 10 new spaces and hiring three new early childhood educators.

ABC Academy East

Milton

As a result of Act 76, ABC Academy opened a third program location, creating 50 new child care slots, which brings the total to 187 spaces across the program’s Milton and St. Albans locations.

Plymouth Schoolhouse

Plymouth

Plymouth Schoolhouse received grant funding through Act 76 to expand and build capacity. With that public investment, the program opened another classroom in the former Plymouth Elementary School, creating 6 new child care spaces and one new job.

Lil' Sunshine Child Care Center

Randolph

Lil' Sunshine Child Care Center opened in Randolph, thanks to public investment in child care. The new child care program serves up to 18 children under three years old. Lil' Sunshine is committed to providing high-quality care, fair compensation for staff, and accessibility for low- to moderate-income families.

Salisbury Family Center

Salisbury

Christian Bowdish opened Salisbury's first licensed child care program with public funding, resulting in 35 new child care spaces for the area, 10 full-time jobs, and one part-time job!

Green Mountain Childcare

Springfield

With over $20,000 in public funding, Mary Wright opened Green Mountain Childcare in April 2024. The funds paid to renovate the first floor of her home to include two playrooms, a small kitchen, a bathroom for the children, play structures, and a changing station; the public funding also paid for fencing around her outdoor play space. Her home program serves six children.

The Homestead School at Lakewood Commons

South Burlington

This expansion of the Homestead School for Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers creates 80 new child care slots.

ABC & LOL Preschool & Child Care Center

St. Johnsbury

This expansion creates 55 new child care slots, in addition to expanding its afterschool program.

Colleen Bethoney Family Child Care Home

Stamford

Public investment allowed Colleen Bethoney to expand capacity at her Family Child Care Home in Stamford. She created 2 new infant spaces, 2 new toddler spaces, and 2 new preschool spaces.

Apple Tree Learning Centers

Stowe

Act 76 funds supported 35 new child care slots for toddlers and PreK, as well as a permanent 6% pay increase for 31 educators.

Mindi's Munchkins

Sutton

Mindi Bessette created 12 new child care spaces, and public funding helped her to create a large play area and make safety updates to her Family Child Care Home.

Spark Academy

Swanton

With support from Act 76, Spark Academy will triple local capacity by providing 37 new child care slots for kids, ages 2-9, and create 6 new full-time jobs. This is Swanton’s first child care center.

Tammie’s Early Care & Education

Thetford

Act 76 funds allowed Tammie to keep her family-home program open, buy a new refrigerator (needed for children’s meals), and purchase health insurance.

Beaver Brook Children’s School

Wilmington

Act 76 funds supported compensation increases and annual bonuses for staff, as well as updated curriculum materials.

This progress would not have been possible without your advocacy. This is just a glimpse of what you’ve helped accomplish. Read more about our impact here:

What’s Next for Vermont’s Child Care Campaign?

Here's Our Plan Year-By-Year:

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

In 2021

WE LAID THE FOUNDATION

In 2021, we worked with our partners and legislative champions to help pass H.171 (The Child Care Bill), which makes immediate investments in Vermont’s child care system and sets a path for long term transformation by establishing state goals for affordability and compensation for early childhood educators.

In 2022

TOGETHER, WE continueD to work to Improve VERMONT'S CHILD CARE SYSTEM

We worked together to continue our progress toward lasting change in Vermont’s child care system by continuing on the path laid out by H.171 and supporting programs to be strong and stable. We also took immediate action to respond to Vermont’s urgent child care workforce crisis. Experts analyzed possible stable, long-term funding sources for our transformed child care system. Plus, via the Let’s Grow Kids Action Network, supporters like you organized your communities to elect over 100 legislators who are child care champions.

In 2023

We PASSED A BILL

We passed Act 76 into law, laying the foundation for long-term investments into a child care system for Vermont that is accessible, affordable, high-quality, accountable, and sustainable.

In 2024

LET’S GET TO WORK

In 2024, we will work with the state, our partners, child care programs, early childhood educators, families, and employers to ensure the successful implementation of Act 76 and continue to advocate for a sustainable child care system that works for everyone.

In 2025

YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US CROSS THE FINISH LINE!

Your donations and support will transform our shared successes into reality for Vermont children, families, and early childhood educators, until Let’s Grow Kids sunsets in 2025.

Our work is not done yet! Right now, we’re focused on keeping the momentum going so that we can fully solve our state’s child care crisis. In 2024, we’re:

Making sure Act 76 is fully funded and implemented effectively;
Continuing to celebrate, encourage, and support lawmakers in fully tackling the child care crisis;
Engaging Vermonters to celebrate progress and highlight the benefits of public investment in child care.

Ready to Solve the Child Care Crisis?

We’re aiming to solve Vermont’s child care crisis through long-term, sustainable public investment by 2025. Progress on child care is happening because Vermonters like you share their stories, contact their legislators, volunteer their time, and attend our Child Care Campaign events. Learn how you can get involved and make a difference today.