MIDDLEBURY — A recent, massive infusion of new money into Vermont’s childcare system through a new law has helped create 1,000 new slots statewide and spurred a renaissance in the industry here in Addison County, which had sustained major losses in childcare offerings during the COVID pandemic.
State and local officials on Aug. 7 converged on Middlebury’s Mary Johnson Children’s Center (MJCC) to celebrate the impacts of Act 76, a sweeping childcare revitalization law that since its passage last year has generated an additional $125 million to allow childcare centers to expand their enrollment, upgrade their facilities, and increase compensation and professional development opportunities for their educators and staff.
Fueled by a 0.44% payroll tax, the new mandate has also broadened the number of Vermont households eligible for assistance through the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP). That program in April began offering tuition aid to families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, a bar that’ll move up to 585% this October. The current federal poverty line is $31,200 for a family of four.
“We are turning a corner; this has been a remarkable amount of progress in a short period of time,” said Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids, a nonprofit childcare advocacy organization based in Burlington.
“Public investment in childcare is working.”
Just three years ago, the Independent reported the closing of Middlebury’s Sunshine Children’s Center at 13 Washington St. Ext., which had maintained 20 childcare slots.
Two years ago, we reported on how some local childcare centers were having to pare back hours due to staff shortages, driven by low wages.
But there’s been a big rebound since the 2023 passage of Act 76, which triggered a 0.44% payroll tax that’s created a reservoir of money to stabilize existing childcare centers, spawn new ones, and make the service more accessible to young families — a demographic that’s declining in the Green Mountain State.
Among other things, Act 76 has contributed to the following childcare gains in Addison County:
- The recent launch of the Red Clover Childcare Center in the Congregational Church of Middlebury, offering 24 slots for children ages six weeks to 3 years old.
- This year’s start of a major expansion of Middlebury’s Otter Creek Child Center at 150 Weybridge St., a project designed to create 77 new childcare slots (for a total of 139) and 28 related new jobs by the spring/summer of 2025.
- Creation of new slots — with more on the way — at MJCC, which serves kids at its 81 Water St. campus, the Cooperative Nursery School at 391 E. Main St. in East Middlebury, and at Orwell Village School.
Specifically, MJCC will establish a new toddler program (serving around 10) in what is currently an unused classroom at 391 E. Main. The center is also mapping out a modest addition to the Barrera House on its 81 Water St. campus that would create a second classroom for infant care — the most sought-after childcare commodity in the state right now. Renovations are underway in East Middlebury, which already houses a preschool program serving 11 preschoolers.
Implementation of Act 76 resulted in a quick turnaround in MJCC’s fortunes and prospects — including education and advancement opportunities for the center’s 24 full-time-equivalent staff, according to the nonprofits assistant director, Darcy Bean.
“We’ve been able to give bonuses to staff, increase wages, create a salary scale based on education, and we have a lot of our staff in college right now,” Bean said.
MJCC Executive Director Kristen Dunne elaborated on the Act 76 boost as she took visitors on a tour of center facilities.
“Our pay scale used to be like this,” Dunne said, pinching her fingers close together. “Most of our staff with children here were on subsidies themselves. With Act 76, we’ve been able to move that scale pretty wide.”
In other words, experienced, licensed teachers can be better rewarded for their credentials.
Dunne credited the new law with allowing centers to make it easier for their employees to become more credentialed.
“65% of our staff are in school, working toward a degree or a credential,” she said with pride. “Prior to Act 76, there were zero (in school). They now have hope that there’s something to work for.”
Act 76 funds have allowed MJCC to increase its benefits package by around $500 this year, according to Dunne.
“We’re also investing in professional development,” she added. “We’re able to send our staff on a flight, to a place to do some deep learning. I finally feel like we’re focusing on our pedagogy, creating time for that.”
In Bristol
Abbey Gendreau is executive director of the Bristol Family Center (BFC), which now serves around 45 families at its Lovers Lane facility. The center is fully enrolled, with a wait list of more than 75 — just for its infant program.
Gendreau said Act 76 has increased, from around 25% to more than 40%, the percentage of BFC families able to secure a childcare subsidy.
“It’s really been amazing, and I’m curious to see what the next bump, in October, will do for the number of families able to access subsidies,” she said.
Like its counterparts, BFC was able to give its staff raises and offer professional development opportunities.
Entering this fall, BFC will carry around 15 FTE workers — more staff than it’s ever had. And 15 is three more than it had prior to Act 76’s passage last year.
Like MJCC, BFC now has some financial flexibility to address deferred maintenance at its HQ.
“We are looking to repair our building, we’re doing some window renovations so we can be more (energy) efficient and we’re thinking about the future in general,” Gendreau said.
Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Middlebury, had plenty of reasons to smile at the Aug. 7 gathering at MJCC, which her children once attended. Hardy — member of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee and an architect of Act 76 —got to see some tangible effects of the law’s passage and got to see one of her daughters, Anya, a college student who’s working this summer at MJCC.
“It’s been very exciting to see all the progress that’s been made in the past year,” Hardy said.
“Most importantly, it’s what it means for our community — our kids and families here, and their ability to have a high-quality place to send their kids, to be able to go to work knowing their kids are being taken care of, relieving some of the stress many young families are feeling in our state. I’m thrilled and proud of the work, and couldn’t be happier with the results,” she added.
Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, was also among those present. He chairs the House Education Committee and believes a more robust childcare system will pay dividends down the road.
“Not only is the investment we’re making in childcare showing immediate, significant and important results right now, there will be big, long-term benefits to our school systems, in terms of students arriving in schools ready to learn and hopefully needing far fewer supports,” he said.
Among others making the trip to MJCC were Vermont Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth and House Speaker Rep. Jill Krowinski. The latter called Act 76 a “triple win” for the state, citing the new law’s impact on childcare access, employment and ability to attract and retain young families.
“Those investments are critical,” she said.
This article was originally published in the Addison Independent on August 15, 2024. It was written by Reporter John Flowers.