Child Care Affordability Analysis

This analysis is the most robust picture we’ve been able to paint of how policy change and investment have increased child care affordability for families. We have known that Vermont’s child care policy and investments are making a difference for families, but until now we could not show the dollar impact year by year. By cross-referencing 24 data sources, we measured how those changes have affected what families pay, both in dollars and as a share of income, every year from 2018 to 2026.

Building Bright Futures (BBF) is uniquely positioned to do this work as the entity the Vermont Legislature designated to support the implementation and monitoring of Act 76, through the subject-matter expertise of our team and our network of partners across the state including the Vermont Child Development Division, First Children’s Finance Vermont, and the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children.

Suggested citation: Building Bright Futures – Vermont’s Early Childhood State Advisory Council. (2026). Vermont Child Care Affordability. www.buildingbrightfutures.org/publications/child-care-affordability