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Subchapter 001: CHILD CARE FACILITIES
§ 3501. Division of Child Development; duties
The Division of Child Development shall:
(1) encourage the development of a comprehensive child care services system that promotes
the wholesome growth and educational development of children;
(2) facilitate the development of child care facilities;
(3) encourage and promote the provision by child care providers of parenting education,
developmentally appropriate activities, and primary prevention services;
(4) facilitate cooperation between the private and public sectors to promote the expansion
of child care services;
(5) promote continuing study of child care needs and the most effective methods by which
these needs can be served through governmental and private programs;
(6) coordinate activities of the Division with other State agencies serving children and
families;
(7) strive to make the State a model employer by encouraging it to offer a variety of
child care benefit options to its employees;
(8) provide training for child care providers;
(9) support resource and referral services for parents and providers; and
(10) promote the involvement of businesses and communities in the development of child
care services throughout the State by providing technical assistance to providers
and potential providers of child care services. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 5; amended 1971, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.); 1973, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. April 14, 1974; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 61, eff. May 20, 2014.)
§ 3502. Child care facilities; school age care in public schools; 21st Century Fund
(a) Unless exempted under subsection (b) of this section, a person shall not operate a
child care facility without a license or operate a family child care home without
registration from the Department.
(b) The following persons are exempted from the provisions of subsection (a) of this section:
(1) a person providing care for children of not more than two families other than that
of the person providing the care;
(2) a hospital or establishment holding a license issued by the Department of Health or
a person operating a program primarily for recreational or therapeutic purposes, unless
the hospital, establishment, or person provides services for the care, protection,
and supervision of children not incidental to its primary purpose, in which case subsection
(a) of this section shall apply to those nonincidental additional services;
(3) child care facilities operated by religious organizations for the care and supervision
of children during or in connection with religious services or church sponsored activities;
(4) [Repealed.]
(5) an after-school program that serves students in one or more grades from kindergarten
through secondary school, that receives funding through the 21st Century Community
Learning Centers program, and that is overseen by the Agency of Education, unless
the after-school program asks to participate in the child care subsidy program.
(c) A person who has a license to operate a child care facility shall not operate a family
child care home. A person who operates a registered family child care home shall not
operate a child care facility.
(d)(1) Rules pertaining to child care facilities and family child care homes shall be designed
to ensure that children in child care facilities and family child care homes are provided
with wholesome growth and educational experiences and are not subjected to neglect,
mistreatment, or immoral surroundings.
(2) A licensed child care facility shall ensure that all individuals working at the facility
receive orientation, based on materials recommended by the Agency of Human Services
and the Agency of Education, on the prevention, identification, and mandatory reporting
of child abuse, including child sexual abuse, signs and symptoms of sexual abuse,
sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse
in and close to the home, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders.
(e) At least each three years, the Department shall review the rules for licensure and
registration for revision or updating.
(f) The Commissioner, upon request, and in the Commissioner’s discretion, may grant waivers
and variances to child-adult ratios if licensure is applied for by a registered child
care facility.
(g) [Repealed.]
(h) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Agency of Human Services
may provide technical assistance to schools in voluntarily meeting school age child
care standards.
(i) [Repealed.] (Added 1967, No. 147, § 5; amended 1969, No. 254 (Adj. Sess.); 1971, No. 14, § 21, eff. March 11, 1971; 1973, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.). § 24, eff. April 14, 1974; 1981, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 20, 1982; 2001, No. 61, § 74, eff. June 16, 2001; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 109, 140; 2007, No. 62, § 8; 2007, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 2009, No. 1, § 10; 2009, No. 44, § 26, eff. May 21, 2009; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 294, eff. Feb. 14, 2014; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 62, eff. May 20, 2014; 2021, No. 20, § 319.)
§ 3503. Corporal punishment prohibited
(a) As used in this chapter, “corporal punishment” means the intentional infliction of
physical pain upon the body of a child as a disciplinary measure.
(b) No person employed by or agent of a licensed or registered child care facility shall
inflict or cause to be inflicted corporal punishment upon a child attending the facility.
However, this section does not prohibit a person from using reasonable and necessary
force:
(1) to quell a disturbance;
(2) to obtain possession of dangerous objects upon the person of or within the control
of a child;
(3) for the purpose of self defense; or
(4) for the protection of persons or property. (Added 1983, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2007, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 16; 2021, No. 20, § 320.)
§ 3504. Cannabis and tobacco use prohibited at child care facilities
(a) No person shall be permitted to use cannabis as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 4201 or to cultivate cannabis, or use tobacco products or tobacco substitutes as defined
in 7 V.S.A. § 1001, on the premises, both indoor and outdoor, of any licensed child care center or afterschool
program at any time.
(b) No person shall be permitted to use cannabis as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 4201, tobacco products, or tobacco substitutes as defined in 7 V.S.A. § 1001 on the premises, both indoors and in any outdoor area designated for child care,
of a licensed or registered family child care home while children are present and
in care. If use of cannabis or smoking of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
occurs on the premises during other times, the family child care home shall notify
prospective families prior to enrolling a child in the family child care home that
their child will be exposed to an environment in which cannabis, tobacco products,
or tobacco substitutes are used. Cultivation of cannabis in a licensed or registered
family child care home is not permitted.
(c) A person who knowingly uses or cultivates cannabis in violation of this section commits
a misdemeanor crime and shall be subject to the following penalties:
(1) a fine of not more than $500.00 for a first offense;
(2) a fine of not more than $750.00 for a second offense;
(3) a fine of not more than $1,000.00 for a third or subsequent offense. (Added 2013, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2017, No. 86 (Adj. Sess.), § 16.)
§ 3505. Supplemental child care grants
(a)(1)(A) The Commissioner for Children and Families may utilize up to one-half of one percent
of funds appropriated for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program in a fiscal
year for extraordinary financial relief to assist child care programs that are at
risk of closing or not opening due to experiencing financial hardship. The Commissioner
may provide extraordinary financial relief under this subdivision (A) to both licensed
and registered child care programs and to child care programs that are in the process
of becoming licensed or registered. The Commissioner shall develop guidelines for
providing assistance and shall prioritize extraordinary financial relief to child
care programs in areas of the State with high poverty and low access to high-quality
child care.
(B) In order to transition children who are currently served by a child care program that
is closing to a new child care program in an orderly fashion, the Commissioner may
provide assistance to the existing or new program to minimize the disruption of services
to the affected children.
(C) As needed to implement this subdivision (1), the Commissioner has the authority to
request tax returns and other financial documents to verify a child care program’s
financial hardship and its ability to sustain or increase operations.
(2) Annually on or before January 15, the Commissioner shall report to the Senate Committee
on Health and Welfare and to the House Committee on Human Services regarding any funds
distributed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. Specifically, the report
shall address how funds were distributed and used. It shall also address results related
to any distribution of funds.
(b) In instances in which extraordinary financial relief will not maintain ongoing access
to high-quality child care, the Department for Children and Families may provide additional
support to ensure access to high-quality, comprehensive child care that meets the
needs of working parents in high-poverty areas of Vermont. Licensed child care programs
may be considered for this additional financial support to help ensure ongoing access
to high-quality child care in areas of the State where none exists, as determined
by the Commissioner. Financial assistance may be granted, at the discretion of the
Commissioner, if the child care program meets the following criteria:
(1) provides full-day child care year-round;
(2) serves infants and toddlers;
(3) is located in a high-poverty area without access to public transportation, as determined
by the Commissioner;
(4) maintains a 5 star rating in the STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) program;
(5) maintains a caseload in which at least 80 percent of enrollees receive a 100 percent
child care subsidy; and
(6) receives child care subsidies as its primary source of program revenue. (Added 2013, No. 179 (Adj. Sess.), § E.318; amended 2015, No. 58, § E.318; 2025, No. 27, § E.318, eff. July 1, 2025.)
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Subchapter 002: CHILD CARE SERVICES
§ 3511. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Child” means an individual under 13 years of age.
(2) “Child care facility” means any place or program operated as a business or service
on a regular or continuous basis, whether for compensation or not, whose primary function
is protection, care, and supervision of children under 16 years of age outside their
homes for periods of fewer than 24 hours a day by a person other than a child’s own
parent, guardian, or relative, as defined by rules adopted by the Department for Children
and Families, but not including a kindergarten approved by the State Board of Education.
(3) “Child care provider” means a person licensed or registered by the Department for
Children and Families, or authorized by the Department, to provide child care.
(4) “Child care services” include developmentally appropriate care and supervision for
children under 13 years of age for fewer than 24 hours a day by a child care provider.
(5) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner for Children and Families.
(6) “Division” means the Child Development Division.
(7) “Family child care home” means a child care facility that provides care on a regular
basis in the caregiver’s own residence.
(8) “Training” means an activity, approved by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee,
that is likely to lead to employment or required to maintain employment. (Added 1987, No. 205 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1997, No. 31, § 1; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 110; 2007, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 63, eff. May 20, 2014; 2019, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Oct. 5, 2020; 2019, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2021; 2023, No. 87 (Adj. Sess.), § 76, eff. March 13, 2024.)
§ 3512. Child Care Financial Assistance Program; eligibility
(a)(1) The Child Care Financial Assistance Program is established to subsidize the costs
of child care for families that need child care services in order to obtain employment,
to retain employment, or to obtain training leading to employment. Families seeking
employment shall be entitled to participate in the Program for up to three months
and the Commissioner may further extend that period.
(2) The subsidy authorized by this subsection and the corresponding family contribution
shall be established by the Commissioner, by rule, and shall bear a reasonable relationship
to income and family size. The Commissioner may adjust the subsidy and family contribution
by rule to account for increasing child care costs not to exceed 1.5 times the most
recent annual increase in the NAICS code 611, Educational Services. Families shall
be found eligible using an income eligibility scale based on the current federal poverty
level and adjusted for the size of the family. Co-payments shall be assigned to the
whole family and shall not increase if more than one eligible child is enrolled in
child care. Families with an annual gross income of less than or equal to 175 percent
of the current federal poverty guidelines shall not have a family co-payment. Families
with an annual gross income up to and including 575 percent of current federal poverty
guidelines, adjusted for family size, shall be eligible for a subsidy authorized by
this subsection. The scale shall be structured so that it encourages employment. If
the federal poverty guidelines decrease in a given year, the Division shall maintain
the previous year’s federal poverty guidelines for the purpose of determining eligibility
and benefit amount under this subsection.
(3) Earnings deposited in a qualified child education savings account, such as the Vermont
Higher Education Investment Plan, established in 16 V.S.A. § 2877, or any similar plan qualified under 26 U.S.C. § 529, shall be disregarded in determining the amount of a family’s income for the purpose
of determining continuing eligibility.
(4) Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a child care provider from establishing
tuition rates that are lower than the provider reimbursement rate in the Child Care
Financial Assistance Program
(5) The Department shall ensure that applications for the Child Care Financial Assistance
Program use a simple, plain-language format. Applications shall be available in both
electronic and paper formats and shall comply with the Office of Racial Equity’s most
recent Language Access Report.
(6) A Vermont resident who has a citizenship status that would otherwise exclude the resident
from participating in the Child Care Financial Assistance Program shall be served
under this Program, provided that the benefit for these residents is solely State-funded.
The Department shall not retain data on the citizenship status of any applicant or
participant once a child is no longer participating in the program, and it shall not
request the citizenship status of any members of the applicant’s or participant’s
family. Any records created pursuant to this subsection shall be exempt from public
inspection and copying under the Public Records Act.
(b)(1) An Enhanced Child Care Services Subsidy Program is established for families participating
in the Reach Ahead program.
(2) The Enhanced Child Care Services Subsidy Program established by this subsection shall
be administered by the Department’s Child Development Division. The Commissioner shall
adopt rules necessary for the administration of the Program pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter
25.
(3) The subsidy authorized by this subsection shall be no greater than 100 percent of
the subsidy provided in subsection (a) of this section.
(4) A participating family shall remain eligible for the Enhanced Child Care Services
Subsidy Program between 12 and 24 months as long as one or more dependent children
of a working parent or parents are receiving child care services. The Commissioner
for Children and Families may extend the subsidy beyond 24 months if the Commissioners
for Children and Families and of Finance and Management determine jointly that an
extension can be accommodated within appropriated resources.
(5) The Enhanced Child Care Services Subsidy Program shall be funded through savings resulting
from caseload reductions in the Reach Up program. If there are insufficient savings
from caseload reductions to fund the Program, the Program shall be suspended or modified. (Added 1987, No. 205 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2007, No. 30, § 23, eff. May 17, 2007; 2009, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § E.318.1; 2013, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. July 1, 2015; 2017, No. 29, § 3; 2019, No. 72, § E.318; 2021, No. 45, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2021; 2023, No. 76, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2024; 2023, No. 76, § 5a, eff. Apr. 1, 2024; 2023, No. 76, § 5b, eff. July 1, 2024; 2023, No. 76, § 5c, eff. Oct. 1, 2024; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 472, eff. October 1, 2024; 2023, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § E.318.3, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 3513. Protective and family support child care services
The Division shall establish a program that subsidizes, in whole or in part, the cost
of child care services provided to protective services children or to families for
the purpose of preserving, rehabilitating, or reunifying such families. (Added 1987, No. 205, (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 64, eff. May 20, 2014.)
§ 3514. Payment to providers
(a)(1) The Commissioner shall establish a payment schedule for purposes of reimbursing providers
for full- or part-time child care services rendered to families who participate in
the programs established under section 3512 or 3513 of this title. The payment schedule shall account for the age of the children served, and all providers
in the same child care setting category shall receive a reimbursement rate payment,
which shall be dependent upon whether the provider operates a child care center and
preschool program, family child care home, or afterschool or summer care program.
The reimbursement rate shall then be adjusted to reduce the differential between family
child care homes and center-based child care and preschool programs by 50 percent.
(2) Payments shall be based on enrollment. The Department, in consultation with the Office
of Racial Equity and stakeholders, shall adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 that define “enrollment” and the total number of allowable absences to continue participating
in the Child Care Financial Assistance Program. The Department shall minimize itemization
of absence categories.
(b) The Commissioner may establish a separate payment schedule for child care providers
who have received specialized training, approved by the Commissioner, relating to
protective or family support services.
(c)(1) The payment schedule established by the Commissioner may reimburse providers in accordance
with the results of the most recent Vermont Child Care Market Rate Survey.
(2) The payment schedule shall include reimbursement rate caps tiered in relation to provider
ratings in the Vermont STARS program. The lower limit of the reimbursement rate caps
shall be not less than the 50th percentile of all reported rates for the same provider
setting in each rate category. (Added 1987, No. 205 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 111; 2021, No. 45, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2021; 2023, No. 76, § 8a, eff. July 1, 2023; 2023, No. 76, § 9, eff. Jan. 1, 2024; 2023, No. 76, § 9a, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 3515. Child care quality and capacity incentive program
(a) The Commissioner shall establish a child care quality and capacity incentive program
for child care providers participating in the Child Care Financial Assistance Program
pursuant to sections 3512 and 3513 of this title. Annually, consistent with funds appropriated for this purpose, the Commissioner
may provide a child care provider with an incentive payment for the following achievements:
(1) achieving a higher level in the quality rating and improvement system, including increasing
access to and provision of culturally competent care and multilingual programming
and providing other family support services similar to those provided in approved
Head Start programs;
(2) increasing infant and toddler capacity;
(3) maintaining existing infant and toddler capacity;
(4) establishing capacity in regions of the State that are identified by the Commissioner
as underserved;
(5) providing nonstandard hours of child care services;
(6) completing a Commissioner-approved training on protective or family support services;
and
(7) other quality- or capacity-specific criteria identified by the Commissioner.
(b) The Commissioner shall maintain a current incentive payment schedule on the Department’s
website. (Added 2023, No. 76, § 10, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 3516. Child care waitlist and application fees
A child care provider shall not charge an application or waitlist fee for child care
services where the applying child qualifies for the Child Care Financial Assistance
Program pursuant to section 3512 or 3513 of this title. A child care provider shall reimburse an individual who is charged an application
or waitlist fee for child care services if it is later determined that the applying
child qualified for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program at the time the fee
or fees were paid. (Added 2023, No. 76, § 11, eff. July 1, 2023.)
§ 3517. Child care tuition rates
A child care provider shall ensure that its tuition rates are available to the public.
A regulated child care provider shall not impose an increase on annual child care
tuition that exceeds 1.5 times the most recent annual increase in the NAICS code 611,
Educational Services. This amount shall be posted on the Department’s website annually. (Added 2023, No. 76, § 12, eff. July 1, 2023; amended 2023, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § E.318.1, eff. July 1, 2024; 2023, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § E.318.2, eff. July 1, 2025.)
§ 3518. Child care provider ownership disclosure
(a) Definitions. As used in this section:
(1) “Affiliate” means a person that directly or indirectly owns or controls, is owned
or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with another person.
(2) “Controls,” “is controlled by,” and “under common control” mean the power to direct,
or cause the direction or management and policies of a person, whether through the
direct or beneficial ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. A
person who directly or beneficially owns 10 percent or more equity interest, or the
equivalent thereof, of another person shall be deemed to control the person.
(3) “Licensee” means a person that the Department approves to receive Child Care Financial
Assistance Program funding for child care services pursuant to a provider rate agreement.
(4) “Principal” means one of the following:
(A) the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, manager, or similar officer of
a corporation as provided for by 11A V.S.A. § 8.40, nonprofit corporation as provided for by 11B V.S.A. § 8.40, mutual benefit enterprise as provided for by 11C V.S.A. § 822, cooperative as provided for by 11 V.S.A. § 1013, or worker cooperative corporation as provided for by 11 V.S.A. § 1089;
(B) a director of a corporation as provided for by 11A V.S.A. § 8.01, nonprofit corporation as provided for by 11B V.S.A. § 8.01, mutual benefit enterprise as provided for by 11C V.S.A. § 801, cooperative as provided for by 11 V.S.A. § 1006, or worker cooperative corporation as provided for by 11 V.S.A. § 1089;
(C) a member of a member-managed limited liability company as provided for by 11 V.S.A. § 4054;
(D) manager of a manager-managed limited liability company as provided for by 11 V.S.A. § 4054; or
(E) a partner of a partnership as provided for by 11 V.S.A. § 3212 or a general partner of a limited partnership as provided for by 11 V.S.A chapter
23.
(b) Disclosure. The Department shall adopt procedures to require each licensee to disclose, as a condition
of receiving Child Care Financial Assistance Program funding pursuant to a provider
rate agreement:
(1) the type of business organization of the licensee;
(2) the identity of the licensee’s owners and principals; and
(3) the identity of the owners and principals of the licensee’s affiliates. (Added 2023, No. 76, § 12a, eff. July 1, 2023; amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 473, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 3519. Diversity, equity, and inclusion
The Department shall consult with the Office of Racial Equity in preparing all public
materials and trainings related to the Child Care Financial Assistance Program. (Added 2023, No. 76, § 12b, eff. July 1, 2023.)
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Subchapter 005: WORKFORCE
§ 3541. Scholarships for current early childhood providers
(a) There is established a need-based scholarship program for individuals employed by
a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program or family child care
home while acquiring credits in early childhood development or that are related directly
to working with children from birth through eight years of age.
(b) The Department for Children and Families may contract for the administration of the
program set forth in subsection (a) of this section and adopt policies, procedures,
and guidelines necessary for its implementation.
(c) Scholarships distributed pursuant to this section shall be available on a first-come,
first-served basis until any appropriated funds are depleted.
(d) An individual shall not simultaneously participate in the scholarship program set
forth in this section and the student loan repayment assistance program set forth
in section 3543 of this title. (Added 2021, No. 45, § 6; amended 2023, No. 76, § 17(a), eff. July 1, 2023.)
§ 3542. Scholarships for prospective early childhood providers [Repealed effective July 1,
2026]
(a)(1) There is established a need-based scholarship program for individuals pursuing a college
degree in early childhood education or early childhood special education. The scholarship
program shall provide financial assistance up to the full cost of tuition for an eligible
individual.
(2) An eligible individual shall:
(A) attend a Vermont college or university at least part-time;
(B) be pursuing an associates or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or early
childhood special education; and
(C) commit to working in a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program
or family child care home in Vermont for years equal to those in which scholarship
monies are sought under this section.
(b)(1) The Department for Children and Families shall adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines
necessary for implementation of the program described in subsection (a) of this section.
(2) The Department may contract for the administration of the program. Administration
costs shall not be more than 10 percent of the total appropriation received to implement
this section.
(c)(1) Scholarships distributed pursuant to this section shall be available on a first-come,
first-served basis until any appropriated funds are depleted.
(2) An eligible individual who does not work the required number of years in a regulated,
privately operated center-based child care program or family child care home in Vermont
after completion of the individual’s degree program shall repay scholarship monies
received under this section commensurate with the balance of the eligible individual’s
time commitment.
(d) An individual shall not simultaneously participate in the scholarship program set
forth in this section and the student loan repayment assistance program set forth
in section 3543 of this title. (Added 2021, No. 45, § 6; repealed on July 1, 2026 by 2021, No. 45, § 8(b) and 2023, No. 76, § 17(b).)
§ 3542. Repealed. 2021, No. 45, § 8(b) and 2023, No. 76, § 17(b), eff. July 1, 2026.
(Added 2021, No. 45, § 6; repealed on July 1, 2026 by 2021, No. 45, § 8(b) and 2023, No. 76, § 17(b).)
§ 3543. Student loan repayment assistance
(a)(1) There is established a need-based student loan repayment assistance program for the
purpose of providing student loan repayment assistance to any individual employed
by a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program or family child
care home.
(2) An eligible individual shall:
(A)(i) work in a privately operated center-based child care program or in a family child
care home that is regulated by the Division for at least an average of 30 hours per
week for 48 weeks of the year; or
(ii) if the individual is an employee of a Vermont Head Start program that operates fewer
than 48 weeks per year, work a minimum of nine months of the year, inclusive of any
employer-approved time off; or
(B) receive an annual salary of not more than $60,000.00 through the individual’s work
in regulated child care; and
(C)(i) have earned an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree with a major or concentration
in early childhood, child and human development, elementary education, special education
with a birth to age eight focus, or child and family services; or
(ii) have earned an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree that contributes to an
Early Childhood Career Ladder Certificate Level IIIB or higher through Northern Lights
at the Community College of Vermont.
(3) To participate in the program set forth in this section, an eligible individual shall
submit to the Department for Children and Families documentation expressing the individual’s
intent to work in a regulated, privately operated center-based child care program
or family child care home for at least the 12 months following the annual loan repayment
award notification. A participant may receive up to $4,000.00 annually in student
loan repayment assistance, which shall be distributed by the Department in four allotments.
The Department shall distribute at least one-quarter of the individual’s total annual
benefit after the individual has completed three months of employment in accordance
with the program. The remainder of an individual’s total annual benefit shall be distributed
by the Department every three months after the initial payment.
(b)(1) The Department shall adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines necessary to implement
the provisions of this section.
(2) Student loan repayments shall be available pursuant to this section on a first-come,
first-served basis until appropriated funds are depleted.
(3) The Department may contract for the administration of the program. Administration
costs shall not be more than 10 percent of the total appropriation received to implement
this section.
(c) An individual shall not simultaneously participate in the student loan repayment assistance
program set forth in this section and either of the scholarship programs set forth
in section 3541 or 3542 of this title. (Added 2021, No. 45, § 6; amended 2021, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 37, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 3, § 88, eff. March 20, 2023; 2023, No. 6, § 393, eff. July 1, 2023; 2023, No. 76, § 17(c), eff. July 1, 2023.)