January 26, 2026 by Sharron Harrington and Emilie Tenenebaum – Waterbury Roundabout
Across political lines and communities, Vermonters agree: young families should be able to afford to live and work here. The good news is, our investments in child care are moving us toward this shared vision.
Early childhood connects to many of Vermont’s biggest policy challenges, from affordability to school readiness to housing. Since 2023, Vermont’s bold investments in child care access and affordability have begun to reshape what’s possible.
More than 5,000 additional children and their families have accessed tuition assistance to help pay for child care. Over 100 new child care programs have opened, creating 1,700 new spaces for children and 400 new early childhood educator jobs.