By John Flowers,
Addison Independent
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, 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 (or $124,800 for a family of four), a bar that’ll move up to 585% (or $182,520) 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.”
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.
She said with pride, “65% of our staff are in school, working toward a degree or a credential…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.”
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.
