Overview
While Vermont has a broad understanding of the data necessary to better inform policy, a unified Vermont Early Childhood Data Development Agenda will allow the state to capitalize on efficiencies created by aligning resources to develop systems, infrastructure, and variables to meet the needs of multiple agencies and organizations. The Data Development Agenda will serve as the mechanism to identify, prioritize, and take action to improve data quality, access, and use. This will be a living document that is continuously reviewed and updated by BBF and the VECAP Data and Evaluation Committee, which is tasked with identifying, monitoring, and strategizing about how best to address data gaps within the early childhood system. The Data Development Agenda will be updated based on progress, successes, and barriers. Once each section is developed, it will be consistently used to inform how Vermont will tackle data gaps, set priorities, and appropriately link data across systems. Each section of the Data Development Agenda should be considered a living document. If you would like to contribute additional information to this agenda, please Contact Us.
The first iteration of the Data Development Agenda will include:
- Identification of existing cross-sector data by topic and priority
- Limitations, gaps, and challenges
- Data needed to inform decision-making
- Questions and considerations
- Identification of lead data entity or data steward
The first 3 available sections of the data development agenda linked below were added 6/9/23.
Key Links
Previous Work on Data Gaps
The 2020 Early Childhood Systems Needs Assessment includes a table that provides a thematic summary of the data gaps that have been identified by the VECAP Data and Evaluation Committee, focus group participants, and 2020 Needs Assessment Survey respondents. Gaps identified in the table are in many cases not new; however, we must elevate them because they have not yet been addressed, and there is new urgency in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic for data regarding the well-being of children and families.