Publicly Funded Preschool – Act 166
What Does it Do?Act 166 now mandates funding for 10 hours of universal pre-K for all 3 to 5-year-olds in Vermont in a prequalified program for 35 weeks in a school year. Regardless of parental income or circumstance, all children who are age 3-5 on or before 9/1/17 are eligible to receive high quality early learning experiences. For 2017/18 the Act 166 funding is equal to $3178 per child.Find our more about Prequalified Programs HERE
Why does VT Need Act 166?Recognizes Early Years as critically important!
Early Childhood education is a profession, and teachers who train to understand development in the early years know that 80% of the brain architecture before age 5 is being built before our eyes as synapses are formed, strengthened and pruned according to the quality of the stimulation, problem solving and positive interactions the child is exposed to.
Encourages high quality Early Care and Education
The Let’s Grow Kids Campaign has campaigned for high quality early care and education and Act 166 provides that the Grant is only used for tuition in those programs that meet some stringent Quality requirements.
Makes Early-Care affordable for VT families
Reduces the cost of high-quality education by at least 25% for full-time and more for part-time programs (if equal to at least 10 hours/week)
When is My Child Eligible?All Vermont School Districts are mandated to offer Act 166 funds in 2017/18
Unless you live in a School District that has chosen to create an Act 166 “Regions” — limiting parents to use funds only in programs within its School District — you can use the funds in any prequalified program EVEN IF THE PROGRAM IS OUTSIDE YOUR HOME DISTRICT. There are very few Act 166 regions and the list can be found HERE
Why does VT Need Act 166?Recognizes Early Years as critically important!
Early Childhood education is a profession, and teachers who train to understand development in the early years know that 80% of the brain architecture before age 5 is being built before our eyes as synapses are formed, strengthened and pruned according to the quality of the stimulation, problem solving and positive interactions the child is exposed to.
Encourages high quality Early Care and Education
The Let’s Grow Kids Campaign has campaigned for high quality early care and education and Act 166 provides that the Grant is only used for tuition in those programs that meet some stringent Quality requirements.
Makes Early-Care affordable for VT families
Reduces the cost of high-quality education by at least 25% for full-time and more for part-time programs (if equal to at least 10 hours/week)
When is My Child Eligible?All Vermont School Districts are mandated to offer Act 166 funds in 2017/18
Unless you live in a School District that has chosen to create an Act 166 “Regions” — limiting parents to use funds only in programs within its School District — you can use the funds in any prequalified program EVEN IF THE PROGRAM IS OUTSIDE YOUR HOME DISTRICT. There are very few Act 166 regions and the list can be found HERE
