Where the licensed child care is—and isn’t—2013
Vermont has about 680 licensed child care providers, but they are not evenly distributed throughout the state. Several communities, especially in the Northeast Kingdom, have none.
Vermont does not yet collect data on the number of children enrolled at child care facilities. However, the state does determine the capacity—meaning the size and appropriate setup—of each facility to care for children in various age groups: infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-age. The capacity of licensed child care providers in the state is just under 26,000 children. That overstates the number of children cared for by licensed providers, because many facilities have the physical space for more children than they actually serve. But the number doesn’t include children cared for in registered homes, which are also regulated by the state, or through informal arrangements with friends or relatives.
The Vermont Department of Children and Families provides child care subsidies for more than 8,100 children from low-income families—about 5,000 full time and 3,100 part time. These are children cared for by either licensed providers or registered homes.
The map shows the capacity of licensed providers in each town. Licensed providers are typically located outside of a home and include pre-school programs provided by local school districts or supervisory unions. The map does not include registered homes, which are located in the providers’ own houses.
