After years working directly with children and families, I’ve seen how limited hours and scarce after‑school options force parents, especially single parents and those in demanding jobs, to patch together unstable care. Most families need coverage from early morning to early evening, yet few Chittenden County centers offer those hours.

 

Child care should be abundant, high‑quality, and aligned with the real schedules of working Vermonters. Child care is one of Vermont’s most important workforce pathways. Act 76 moved us forward but we need far more capacity. I support expanding the VT ECE Youth Apprenticeship program, which blends classroom learning with hands‑on experience in community preschools, and extending it into after‑school programs to support grade‑school students.

 

High‑quality, reliable child care should be the norm. Care should be available for all preschool and grade‑school children during the hours parents are working. This is how we help families stay in Vermont and ensure their children thrive.

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