Summary
The State of Vermont was awarded a federal Early Learning Challenge - Race-to-theTop (ELC-RTT) grant in 2014. As part of this effort, Vermont designed the Workforce Survey Project as a way to gather information regarding the demographics, education and credentials, wages, benefits, and aspirations of the early childhood and after-school workforce. Working collaboratively with stakeholders across the field of early childhood and afterschool in Vermont, the Child Development Division (CDD) worked closely with their contractor, Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) and the Agency of Education (AOE) to develop and administer three workforce surveys, analyze and interpret data, and compile the current report.
Key findings
Key finding #1: Educational degree attainment varies by sector.
Key finding #2: Wages in family child care homes and early childhood and after-school licensed centers are lower than wages in public school settings.
Key finding #3: Few benefits are provided to people working in family child care homes and licensed centers that are not managed by the public schools.
Key finding #4: The early childhood and after-school workforce reports high job satisfaction and plans to continue working in the field.
Key finding #5: Low wages and few benefits are the top reasons why individuals might leave the field of early childhood and after-school.