Vermont one of six states selected for NGA early childhood policy initiative

The National Governors Association (NGA) has selected Vermont, as one of only six states, to develop high-quality, comprehensive state early childhood systems through a new initiative, Ready States: A Project to Develop Key Components of State Early Childhood Infrastructure. With a history of successful investments in early childhood systems and a high rating for child health and wellbeing, Vermont has the vision, team, and commitment to use this technical assistance to help ensure that all Vermont’s young children get what they need to grow, learn and thrive.
“This opportunity comes at a perfect time,” Governor Douglas said of the award. “Vermont is committed to redesigning how we provide government services with a focus on performance-based measures and greater accountability using data to improve outcomes and service delivery. The NGA’s “Ready States” initiative will help us develop a much needed early childhood data system.”
Over a 10-month period, the six selected states – Vermont, Kansas, Louisiana, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington – will develop action plans for state early childhood development infrastructure in governance, program quality, professional development or data systems, and work with a team of national experts to develop effective policy change strategies. According to the NGA, the strategies and policies developed by the selected states are intended to serve as ideas and best practices for all states.
Vermont will build on previous strategic and successful infrastructure investments in the areas of governance, program quality, and professional development. Vermont already has an established early care, health and education governance body; Building Bright Futures, a state-wide early care and education quality recognition systems (STARS) and an early childhood professional development system, the Northern Lights Career Development Center. This technical assistance grant enables Vermont to develop the missing data systems piece by developing a comprehensive early childhood data system that will collect high quality, longitudinal data about young children, protect child and family confidentiality, track results and inform data driven policy decisions that will maximize resources.
Vermont already has in place the NGA Ready State Initiative’s required core team comprised of government and community leaders who are in a position to develop and implement policy and strategies to build Vermont’s comprehensive early childhood system.
Janice Mantell, Executive Director of Building Bright Futures (BBF), said: “We’re very pleased that Vermont was selected as one of six states for this important NGA Initiative that matches so well with our state’s vision and plans. BBF welcomes the opportunity to be part of this effort to ensure that Vermont’s children thrive. As we know, our children are our present and future – investing in them early on serves us all.”
Source: NGA.