The Vermont Child Care Apprenticeship Program enables participants to obtain a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential while completing six to seven college courses required for the registered apprenticeship. The VT Early Childhood Career Ladder includes a level dedicated to both the CDA and the registered apprenticeship. With the college courses, the program includes 27 hours of community-based training specifically designed for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs). Employers select teachers who can potentially become apprentices, as well as qualified mentors within the same program. The apprenticeship focuses on developing competency through on-the-job learning and uses the Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council's Daily Activities Assessment Tool, which aligns with Vermont's Early Childhood Core Knowledge and Competencies, Vermont Child Care Licensing Regulations, CDA Functional Areas, and NAEYC best practices to evaluate learning progress. The VT Child Development Division provides funding for the Apprenticeship Program through funds allocated from the Child Care & Development Block Grant. Funding comes through the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood VERMONT program, which pays for 100% of tuition and books, provides an access stipend each semester, provides a $400 contract completion bonus for apprentices, and provides counseling and administrative support for the program. Funding for T.E.A.C.H. Vermont comes from State of Vermont Child Development Division (funds from state and federal levels), the A.D. Henderson Foundation for startup funds, and ECE programs that co-sponsor a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship recipient. Learn More: Vermont ECE Apprenticeship Program. Sources: Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). VT ECE Apprenticeship Program. National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning. (n.d.). Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships. Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). Apprenticeship Model. Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). Our Programs.

Created in 2011, Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Early Childhood Integrated Data System functions to store and integrate data from the state’s early childhood programs, services, and systems. The system provides demographic, program, and individual data on a variety of services, including the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Baby Watch Early Intervention Program, Child Care Subsidy, Head Start - Centro de la Familia de Utah, Vital Statistics Birth Registry, Vital Statistics Death Registry, Women Infants and Children. The system is governed by the ECIDS Data Policy Committee, which consists of members that have entered into a data-sharing agreement with DHHS (e.g., The Early Childhood Data Collaborative, Utah Head Start Association, Utah State Board of Education, Office of Home Visiting, etc.). The private individual level data is matched and deidentified Master Person Indices (MPIs) and every individual is given a unique identifier. Utah ECIDS helps to identify and evaluate long-term outcomes attributed to early childhood investments. The system also provides a “community assessment tool,” which was developed in partnership with ECDataWorks to equip local leaders with demographic and program information on early childhood Eligibility, Access, Services, and Impact. The system is funded by Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems grant, Child Care Development Funds, Kellogg Foundation through UPenn’s ECDataWorks, Heising-Simons through Child Trend’s SHINE project and Utah Department of Education. Learn More: Utah's Early Childhood Integrated Data System Other Sources:Zero to Three. (2018). The Utah Early Childhood Statewide Data Integration Project.

In July 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed SB578/HB1012 to give Virginia’s Board of Education (BOE) and Department of Education (DOE) joint responsibility for overseeing and administering early care and education across the state. This created a defined point of accountability and coordination for early education programs effective July 1, 2021. Under this arrangement, the Department of Education became responsible for child care licensing and administration of the state's child care subsidy program. Moving all early childhood programming to one agency improves efficiency and allows for better alignment of eligibility, monitoring, and quality improvement activities (Bipartisan Policy Center, 2023). Learn More: Virginia Department of Education Sources:Virginia Department of Education (2020). Child Care and Development Fund Plan for Virginia.Early Childhood Care & Education | Virginia Department of Education Bipartisan Policy Center (2023). Integrated Efficient Early Care and Education Systems

Launched in 2016, Vermont’s Universal Prekindergarten program offers a minimum of 10 hours per week (35 weeks/year) of publicly funded prekindergarten for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds (if they are not yet eligible for kindergarten). In April 2023, the Vermont General Assembly passed Bill S.56, which spelled out a multipronged effort to expand prekindergarten across the state. This effort includes a study of prekindergarten education, expanding eligibility for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, and increasing the rate the State pays ECE providers. As of 2022, Vermont's Universal Prekindergarten Program served 65% of 4-year-olds and 35% of 3-year-olds. Learn More: Vermont Universal Prekindergarten Sources:Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office. (2023). S.56 – An act relating to child care and early childhood education.State of Vermont Agency of Education. (n.d.). Universal Prekindergarten: Act 166.National Institute for Early Education Research. (2023). Vermont.State of Vermont Agency of Education. (2019). Prekindergarten Education Study: Final Report.

In 2022, as part of the Special Session I Budget, the Virginia General Assembly directed the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to develop a way to estimate the actual cost of providing high-quality early childhood services, and to use that method to set payment rates for early education providers across the state.  A proposal was approved by the federal Office of Child Care. Then VDOE leaders partnered with Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies to develop and refine the cost estimation model. Together, they identified key cost drivers and data sources; gathered feedback on the proposed methodology from child care providers, advocates, and other stakeholders; and adjusted the cost model based on regional differences, expectations for classroom quality as defined by the state’s VQB5 quality rating and improvement system, and the assumption that educator compensation should be competitive.  Virginia's Child Care Subsidy Program and Mixed Delivery grant program now base their payment rates on VDOE’s cost estimation model.  learn more: virginia child care cost estimation model Sources: Virginia Department of Education. (2023, September 21). Estimating the Cost of High-Quality Early Childhood Care and Education. Child Care VA. (n.d.). Estimating the Cost of High-Quality Early Childhood Care and Education.

Founded in 2009, Virginia’s Department of Education’s Virginia Longitudinal Data System (VLDS ) is a P-20 longitudinal data system that includes pre-K screening data and early childhood program data. The federated system (i.e., a data sharing system that does not consolidate all data in one warehouse) was developed with the Virginia Institute of Technology to merge demographic, program, and individual data while leaving private data inside agencies’ firewalls. The individual data is deidentified with a unique identifier. Although the VLDS has a research agenda and series of papers, data is only available internally for use by agencies, including the Virginia Department of Education, Department of Social Services, and Office of Children’s Services, or approved researchers. The system is funded through federal Statewide Longitudinal Data System grants. Learn More: Virginia Longitudinal Data System Sources:VCU Performance Management Group. (2021). Virginia Longitudinal Data System Research Agenda.LiBetti, A. & Fu, R. (2022). A State Scan of Early Learning Assessments and Data Systems. New America.

Since 2007, Washington State’s Office of Financial Management’s Education Research & Data Center (ERDC) has hosted the state’s P-20 longitudinal data system, which includes data on preschool programs and early intervention services. The system functions as a warehouse and identity-matching process across state agencies, including the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the State Board of Education. It links demographic, program, and individual data ranging from early childhood education and care to K-12/higher education to the workforce. The individual data is deidentified with a unique identifier to create cross-sector data sets. Data is available by request for authorized users. The ERCD can create data files, analyze data, conduct cross-sector research, and support data collections. The system began in 2007 with the founding of the Governor’s P-20 council and further defined through legislation (RCW 43.41.400). The system expanded in 2009 and is funded by federal grants, including Statewide Longitudinal Data System grant and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant. Learn More: Washington Education Research and Data Center Other Sources:Education Research and Data Center (2014). Early Childhood Program Participation and K-12 Outcomes.Washington State Legislature (n.d.). RCW 43.41.400: Education data center.

In 2010, the Washington State Legislature created the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account, ensuring that lottery revenue would support education, from early childhood through college. One part of the account funds the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP); ECEAP provides programming for children ages 0-5 whose parents meet eligibility requirements. In fiscal year 2022, the lottery contributed $40 million to the ECEAP program. Learn More: Washington's Lottery: Who Benefits? Source:Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families. (n.d.). ECEAP & Head Start.

In 2017, Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1661, creating the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). DCYF oversees several services previously offered through the departments of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Early Learning (DEL). These include all programs from the Children’s Administration in DSHS such as Child Protective Services’ Investigations and Family Assessment Response, licensed foster care, and adoption support. Also included are all DEL services, such as the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program for preschoolers, Working Connections Child Care, and Home Visiting. Learn more: Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families Source:Washington State Blue Ribbon Commission Final Report (November 8, 2016). Improving the Well-Being of Washington State’s Children, Youth and Families.

Established in 1989, the West Virginia Registered Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) program holds the distinction of being the longest-running apprenticeship program in early childhood education nationwide. A Registered Apprenticeship Program, ACDS is a partnership among the United States Department of Labor, River Valley Child Development Services, and early childhood programs throughout the state. ACDS involves 300 hours of instructional training and requires apprentices to complete between 3,200 and 4,000 hours of on-the-job training. It covers four semesters and follows a curriculum specifically designed for ACDS, with each semester focusing on a specific age group (infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age). The ACDS Curriculum is taught by certified instructors who meet program-specific criteria, including holding at least a bachelor's degree in early childhood or a related field and possessing direct experience in working with young children. Instructors must renew their teaching credentials for ACDS every two years. Once they have completed the program, participants can apply coursework from the ACDS program toward college credits at most West Virginia community colleges. Employers are obligated to sign an agreement stipulating the raise they will provide to the employees upon completion of the program, although the amount may vary between programs. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources/BCF/Early Care and Education Division is the major source of funding for the program, which is administered by West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources, a program of River Valley Child Development Services. Learn More: West Virginia Apprenticeship Source: West Virginia Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist. (n.d.). National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning. (n.d.). Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships.

In 2022, West Virginia introduced its Universal Pre-K Program (UPK). It is now available in all 55 counties for all 4-year-olds, and for some 3-year-olds with special needs. Because of a lack of space for pre-K classrooms, it took about a decade after its founding for the program to attain the facilities necessary to meet the capacity needs of the state’s pre-K-aged children. The state provides a minimum of 25 hours of care per week, 4 days per week. The UPK program is a voluntary, mixed-delivery model provided through a combination of public, private, Head Start, and community-based programs. As of 2022, 63% of West Virginia’s population of 4-year-olds was enrolled in UPK settings statewide. Though the state has made some efforts to expand slots for 3-year-olds, just 6% of this age group is served by public pre-K slots. Learn More: West Virginia Universal Pre-K Sources: West Virginia Department of Education. (2019). West Virginia Universal Pre-K Guidebook. National Institute for Early Education Research. (2023). West Virginia. Center for the Study of Child Care Employment. (2017). West Virginia Universal Pre-K.

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Department of Health Services (DHS) and Department of Public Instruction (DPI) have hosted the state’s Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) since 2017. The system fosters data-sharing agreements and a data-sharing process for the agencies' demographic, program, and individual data on early childhood services, including child care subsidies, child support, birth records, early health records, maternal health, attendance, and enrollment. The system uses a matching system and encrypted file manager tool to upload deidentified data to an ECIDS portal for researchers’ and agencies’ projects and analyses. The Wisconsin ECIDS compliments the Department of Public Instruction’s WiseDash system, which contains deidentified individual data available by request. The system is funded through a federal Race to the Top–Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant. Learn more: Wisconsin's Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS)