Early Childhood Data Gaps & Priorities

Vermont’s Early Childhood Data Development Agenda

There are questions that Vermont is not currently able to answer due to data gaps and a need for a centralized solution to identify and monitor what data exists, the limitations of existing data, and the pursuit of prioritized data gaps. While Vermont has a broad understanding of the data necessary to better inform policy, a unified Vermont Early Childhood Data Development Agenda will allow for 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 Agenda will serve as the mechanism to identify, prioritize, and take action to improve data quality, access, and use.

  • 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
    • Lead data entity or data steward

Click the button below to see the most up-to-date versions of the Data Development Agenda for the first 3 available sections added 9/25/23.

Universal Prekindergarten Education
Early Childhood Education Workforce
Child Hunger and Nutrition Security

The Vermont Early Childhood Action Plan (VECAP) Data and Evaluation committee is tasked with identifying, monitoring, and strategizing about how best to address data gaps within the Early Childhood system. If you would like to contribute additional information this agenda, please Contact Us.

Previous Data Gaps Work

The 2020 Early Childhood Systems Needs Assessment included a table of data gaps which provides a thematic summary of the data gaps that have been identified by the VECAP Data and Evaluation committee, by focus group participants, and responses to open-ended survey questions across the Building Bright Futures Network that can be used to work toward an early childhood data development agenda. Gaps identified below 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.The VECAP Data and Evaluation committee is tasked with identifying, monitoring, and strategizing about how best to address data gaps within the EC system.

Share an update or data gap

The VECAP Data and Evaluation Committee holds monthly open meetings to discuss data gaps and identify strategies to fill those gaps. Find out more here.

If you would like to report a data gap, provide updates, ask a question, or make suggestions, please contact us.