Families across Vermont rely on a mix of child care centers, registered home programs, preschools, and school-based afterschool care. Our database lists 962 daycare providers in 182 Vermont cities and towns, from Burlington on Lake Champlain to Newport near the Canadian border. This page explains who regulates these programs, how options differ between the Burlington area and the rural counties, and what to do before you enroll a child.

Who Regulates Daycare in Vermont

Child care in Vermont is overseen by the Child Development Division, usually shortened to CDD. It sits inside the Department for Children and Families, part of the Agency of Human Services. CDD licenses child care centers and preschools. It also registers or licenses family child care homes, where a provider cares for children in a private residence.

The two categories work differently. A licensed center operates from a commercial or institutional building and follows rules on staff qualifications, ratios, space, and safety. A family child care home is smaller and usually run by one provider, sometimes with an assistant. Registered homes are capped at a smaller group size, while licensed homes can enroll more children. Ask any home provider to show the certificate that lists exact capacity.

Vermont also runs a quality rating system called STARS, short for Step Ahead Recognition System. Programs can earn one to five stars based on staff education, family engagement, and learning practices. Participation is voluntary, so a program without stars is not necessarily a poor one. Still, a star rating gives you an outside measure when you compare two centers in the same town.

The state's online system, Bright Futures Information System, lets you look up a provider by name or town. It shows license status and, for many programs, inspection and compliance history. Check it before any tour, because it takes about two minutes and tells you whether the program is in good standing.

Daycare in Chittenden County and the Lake Champlain Corridor

Chittenden County is the most populous county in Vermont, and it holds the largest share of our listings. You can browse every provider on the Chittenden County page. Demand is high here because of the hospital, the University of Vermont, the technology and manufacturing employers, and a steady flow of commuters.

The mix of providers is wide. In Burlington, Barnes After School on North Street serves school-age children outside classroom hours. In Essex, Children's Preschool & Enrichment Center Inc. operates on Main Street. Colchester has Adventures In Learning Childcare Center on West Lakeshore Drive, and South Burlington lists Davis Studio on Shelburne Road. Williston has Aidc on Winter Sport Lane, and nearby Shelburne has Adventures In Early Learning on Drew Lane.

Smaller towns around the core also have options. Creative Hands Learning Center is in Milton, and Honeycomb Kids is in Richmond. In Winooski, the Sister Imelda Caissie Early Ed Center on Saint Peter Street runs an early education and extension program. Winooski is compact, so many families there walk or take a short bus ride.

Because this is the busiest market in the state, waitlists run longest here, especially for infants. A parent who works in Burlington may find an opening faster in Milton, Richmond, or Essex, then drive a few extra minutes. Widen your search radius early, and check both sides of your commute.

Central and Southern Vermont: Rutland, Washington, Windsor and Windham

Outside the Burlington area, daycare is spread across smaller cities that serve as regional hubs. Rutland County has the second-largest number of listings, and Rutland city anchors it. Bright Lights Preschool on River Street is one example of the preschool programs in town.

In Washington County, the state capital, Montpelier, and neighboring Barre both draw state employees and hospital workers. Capstone Learning Together Center @ Brook Street in Barre and Community Connections At Union Elementary in Montpelier show the pattern. Some programs are standalone centers, and others are tied to a school building.

The Upper Valley side of Windsor County looks different again. Hartford includes the village of White River Junction and the Quechee area, and Ottauquechee School - Prekindergarten on Dody Lane is a public school pre-K listing. Farther south, Springfield lists the All 4 One Afterschool Programs at Park Street, and Windsor lists Creative Lives Afterschool Program (Clasp) on Pine Street.

Brattleboro sits in the southeast corner near the New Hampshire and Massachusetts lines. Boys & Girls Club Of Brattleboro on Flat Street offers youth programming, and Early Education Services Putney serves families farther up the Connecticut River. You can see more providers on the Windham County page. In Bennington, the Bennington Early Childhood Center on Harwood Hill reflects the school-linked model common in the southwest.

Rural Vermont: Lamoille, Franklin and the Northeast Kingdom

North of the capital, towns are smaller and providers fewer. Families often choose based on a single realistic option rather than a long list. In St. Albans, Almond Blossoms Schoolhouse on Lake Street serves Franklin County, a region that mixes dairy farms with commuters heading south on Interstate 89.

In Lamoille County, Puffer Child Care Center Inc. on Industrial Park Drive in Morristown and Appletree Learning Centers on Mountain Road in Stowe serve very different communities. Morristown is a working service center for the surrounding valley. Stowe is a resort town where seasonal work shapes the schedule, so hours matter as much as price.

The Northeast Kingdom has the longest drives. The Caledonia County listings include Abc & Lol Child Care Center & Preschool in St. Johnsbury and the Caledonia North Supervisory Union in Lyndon. Butterfly Kisses Child Care Center on Prospect Street in Newport serves Orleans County. In winter, a daycare 20 minutes away can feel much farther, so ask how the program handles snow days and late openings.

How to Find and Check a Daycare in Vermont

A short, repeatable process saves time. Most families get better results when they follow the same steps for every provider.

If you cannot reach a provider by phone, try again between mid-morning and early afternoon. Staff are usually with children at drop-off and pickup, so calls then often go unanswered. Vermont's 2-1-1 helpline can also point you toward regional child care referral help and financial assistance programs.

Licensed daycare and childcare programs in Vermont are regulated by the state's child care licensing division, which establishes standards for health, safety, staff qualifications, and caregiver-to-child ratios to protect enrolled children.

Daycare locations are available in 182 cities across Vermont. They are spread across 14 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Burlington, Essex, Rutland, reflecting population centers where working families have the greatest demand for licensed childcare options.

Families in Vermont searching for licensed childcare should verify that any facility is currently licensed by the state, check inspection history, and inquire about available subsidy programs that may reduce out-of-pocket childcare costs.

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Families in Vermont can verify the licensing status of any childcare provider through the state's child care licensing agency online database. Income-eligible families may qualify for childcare subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund program administered at the state level.

Browse Daycare by county across Vermont to find the nearest location.

What Vermont Families Should Plan for Through the Year

Vermont's seasons shape child care more than most families expect. Winter brings snow days and slow roads. Spring brings mud season, when dirt roads in the hill towns turn soft and drop-off routes can change. Summer shifts school-age children from afterschool programs to full-day care, and many providers set separate summer enrollment. Ask about each period in advance rather than discovering the rules in the week you need them.

Closures are the most common surprise. Centers often close for a few holidays, staff training days, and sometimes a week in summer. Home providers may close for their own vacation or illness, with little backup. Ask how much notice you will get and whether the program charges tuition during closures. Keep a backup plan, such as a relative or a second provider, for the days your first choice cannot open.

School calendars matter for older children. Programs attached to schools, such as those in Montpelier, Hartford, or Springfield, often follow the district calendar. Standalone centers in Burlington, Essex, or Rutland may stay open on days when schools are closed. If you work through school vacation weeks, confirm in writing whether the program runs a vacation schedule and whether it costs extra.

Distance is the other factor. In Chittenden County you may compare five centers within a short drive. In parts of the Northeast Kingdom or Orange County, one program may serve several towns. Families there should ask about transport, pickup by an authorized adult, and what happens if a parent is delayed on a winter road. A clear written policy is a good sign.

Finally, keep your own records. Save the provider's license information, your enrollment agreement, and immunization paperwork. Programs need current health forms, and an organized folder makes renewals, transfers, and assistance applications much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions About Daycare in Vermont

Start with the state's Bright Futures Information System, which lets you search for a provider by name or town and see its status. You can also ask the provider to show the current license or registration certificate, which should be posted or available on request. If the details do not match what you found online, call the Child Development Division within the Department for Children and Families. Confirm the status before you pay any deposit, and check again when you renew each year.

A licensed center runs in a dedicated building, usually with several classrooms, a director, and a larger staff. A family child care home operates in the provider's own residence and is generally smaller. Vermont sets different group-size limits for registered and licensed homes, so ask for the capacity on the certificate. Centers often offer more structure and backup staff when someone is out. Homes often offer mixed ages, smaller groups, and flexible hours. Neither type is better in every case, so visit both and compare.

Yes. The Child Care Financial Assistance Program, run through the Child Development Division, helps eligible families with the cost of care. Vermont widened eligibility under Act 76 in 2023, so many middle-income households now qualify for at least partial help. The amount depends on household income, family size, and the type of care. Income limits and rates change, so check the current figures with the Child Development Division before applying. You generally need proof of income and a provider who participates in the program.

Vermont's universal pre-kindergarten law, Act 62 of 2014, provides publicly funded pre-K. It covers 10 hours a week for 35 weeks a year for children who are 3 or 4, and for 5-year-olds not yet in kindergarten. Public schools deliver some of these classes, such as the pre-K at Ottauquechee School in Hartford. Approved private programs deliver others. Contact your school district or an approved provider about enrollment, and ask whether the program also offers wraparound care for the rest of the workday.

As soon as you can, especially for infant care. Infant spots are the scarcest because they require the most staff per child, and the busiest markets are around Burlington, Essex, and South Burlington. Join several lists instead of one, and ask each provider how often it updates the list and whether it charges a fee. Tell them your target start date and your flexibility. Call back every few weeks, because openings sometimes go to families who stay in touch.

Raise it first with the director or home provider, and put the issue in writing so there is a record. If the concern involves safety, supervision, or a rule violation, contact the licensing staff at the Child Development Division, who can review the program. Child care staff in Vermont are mandated reporters, and anyone who suspects abuse can contact the Department for Children and Families. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first. Keep dates, names, and details of what you observed.