Building Great Futures tells Senate Education Committee access rose but homelessness and inequities also increased

Summary

Building Great Futures told the Senate Education Committee that Vermont has sharply expanded child-care subsidy enrollment and pre-K access but is seeing a 273% rise in homelessness among children under 9; the group urged maintaining access for 3-year-olds and careful funding decisions as education transformation proceeds.

Dr. Morgan Crossman, executive director of Building Great Futures, told the Vermont Senate Education Committee that the state has made sizable gains in early-childhood access but faces worsening housing instability and persistent inequities that could undermine school readiness.

"We have a 58% increase in the total number of children who are enrolled in child care financial assist," Crossman said during the committee briefing, and she reported an 82% increase in infant and toddler enrollment. She said Act 76 has expanded eligibility and that nearly 12,000 children and almost 10,000 families are now eligible for child-care cost coverage (CCI). Crossman added that the state has provided about $12.7 million in capacity and infrastructure payments to more than 800 programs and that a preschool development grant will bring an additional $12.7 million into Vermont.

The presentation…

Building Great Futures tells Senate Education Committee access rose but homelessness and inequities also increased

Summary

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