We are updating Vermont’s strategic plan for early childhood! This strategic plan will be for the years 2026–2030.
What Is Vermont’s Early Childhood Strategic Plan?
Currently known as “Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan (VECAP),” this is an important plan that brings together different parts of the early childhood system to help young children and their families be healthy, safe, happy, and successful now and in the future. It aims to create a strong system that supports kids’ growth and families’ well-being.
The plan makes sure everyone shares responsibility for helping children and families from before birth until they are 8 years old. Started in 2013, the VECAP is updated every five years to help different organizations in Vermont work together better. It focuses on making real improvements in how children grow and learn. This is done by agreeing on common goals, figuring out ways to reach those goals, and shared language across the early childhood system.
The plan outlines the vision, common goals, and strategies that guide the state towards a connected, equitable, high-quality system of services for young children and families.
Here are the draft goals for the new strategic plan as of May 19, 2025:
- Goal 1: All Children and Families Have Their Basic Needs Met
- Goal 2: All Children are Raised in Safe & Healthy Environments
- Goal 3: Children and Families Have Access to High Quality Opportunities That Promote Child Development and Well-Being
- Goal 4: Invest in the Early Childhood Workforce to Help Kids Thrive
- Goal 5: Our System Centers Children and Families and is Coordinated, Well-Resourced, Data-Driven
How Can I Get Involved?
Share your feedback via Google Form at this link below starting May 27, 2025 through July 31, 2025.
Join one of our upcoming meetings below to learn more about the draft strategic plan and offer feedback.
What Have We Heard from the Community So Far?
One of our goals as we update Vermont’s Early Childhood Strategic Plan is to center Vermont families, the people most impacted by our state’s early childhood systems. In spring 2025, Building Bright Futures hosted a series of Community Conversations with nearly 200 Vermonters to gather input as we develop the new strategic plan. These conversations included 92 family members and youth as well as 103 early childhood professionals from the BBF Network.
This community input will play a key role in informing the new strategic plan. The qualitative data we gathered—stories, experiences, concerns, and insights—will be paired with our years of data on the early childhood system.
