VERMONT PRE-K AND CHILDCARE EXPANSION: CONTEXT AND PEER MODELS

Despite its high ranking from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) as fourth in the nation for accessibility for four-year-olds and second for three-year-olds, Vermont struggles to provide childcare and pre-K programs that meet the needs of its residents. High quality early childhood education has been shown to have positive impacts that persist beyond school and childhood. Preschool enrollment enables wider workforce participation among parents, boosting community economies. Federal early childhood education programs, most of which are targeted towards low-income children and families, constitute the foundation of preschool programs currently available. Universal preschool is an increasingly discussed issue, yet funding gaps commonly prove politically insurmountable. A growing number of states are implementing programs and measures aimed at expanding pre-K and early childhood classrooms. Oklahoma, Colorado, Maine, and West Virginia have made notable strides in the provision of universal preschool, some through decades-old policies and some through programs still being developed and implemented. Brandenburg, Germany is also included as an additional case study of an effective universal preschool policy infrastructure.