Child Care Financial Assistance Program

Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance Program is designed to help families pay for child care for children birth through age 12. Sliding scale awards are made to income-eligible families qualifying under one of the following service needs:

  • Parents working or in school;
  • Parents who are self-employed or have recently started a business;
  • Parents seeking employment;
  • Parents participating in training activities through Economic Services Reach Up program.
  • Families with a level of stress that creates an at-risk situation;
  • Families with parents or children who have documented physical or mental health needs;
  • Families with children substantiated as abused or neglected and under the care of protective services.

The Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development determines eligibility for this program.

To apply:

Once eligibility is established:

  • The State of Vermont will pay a weekly rate (depending on eligibility) when your child attends child care.
  • You pay your child care provider directly for any balance over the weekly rate contributed by the State of Vermont.
  • As long as you communicate with your provider ahead of time, you may take 10 vacation days per fiscal year and the provider will still receive their weekly amount.
  • The State of Vermont may cover sick days for your child; call your Eligibility Specialist for details.
  • You must report all household changes within 10 days.

To learn more about this program, visit the State of Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance page.

Publicly Funded Prekindergarten

In 2014, Act 166 was signed into law which mandates that all Vermont three and four-year-olds have a right to access publicly funded Prekindergarten for 10 hours a week, 35 weeks a year.  All school districts in Windham County offer Public Pre-K; some provide it in their public schools, and others provide Pre-K funding for children to attend pre-qualified private preschools. The school district will pay each provider an amount (in 2017, $3,000 per child) to be deducted from the child’s tuition for the 10 hours of preschool over 35 weeks, or provide the Pre-K in the school building.

If you are interested in learning more about or enrolling your child in Public Pre-K contact the Supervisory Union for your town if residence.