Issue Position: Early Learning Investments

Issue Position

Early learning is one of the best investments we can make in our children and our future. Research shows that, for every dollar we spend on early learning initiatives, we receive roughly $8.60 in societal benefits such as increased educational attainment, better health, and less involvement with the criminal justice system. And yet, many Vermont families are stuck in the impossible situation of taking a job to support their families and losing their child care subsidy. This may make them worse off than when they started and impedes our economic growth.

We must increase access to quality, affordable early learning opportunities from birth to kindergarten. Many communities across our state are recognizing this, and best practices are beginning to emerge. These include public-private partnerships that expand early childhood education, from scholarships for our neediest families to continued home visits that connect new parents with helpful resources. We should be exploring tools like social impact bonds to capture the returns and reinvest in the next generation of early learners. Giving our kids a head start is the right thing to do for our economy and our future.

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