Act 76 in Action: Progress, Impact, and What’s Next for Childcare
After just one year of implementation Vermont’s landmark investment in early childhood education is already delivering results beyond our expectations. These results are generously funded by your payroll taxes. Join us for a timely update on the impact of Act 76 and what it means for businesses, families, and what our investments will bring for Vermont’s future.
The funders and financiers of early childhood education centers will share the numbers: Vermont is seeing a major expansion in early childhood education, with more childcare openings and newly opened centers across the state. This forum will highlight the real policy progress underway, from expanded access to childcare to stronger support systems for working families and early childhood educators. We’ll also spotlight early childhood education providers who are leading the way with innovative solutions, including on-site and employer-supported childcare.
Hear from guest speakers including:
- Anna Brouillette , Building Bright Futures Policy and Program Director
- Erin Roche, Vermont Director for First Children's Finance
- Beth Wallace , Director of Engagement at the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC)
- Moderated by Johanna de Graffenreid, Public Policy Manager at VBSR
Whether you’re a business leader, policymaker, or community member, this conversation will connect the dots between our investment and the outcomes taking shape across the state. This session was planned in partnership with VBSR member, the Planetary Art Institute.
Meet Our Speakers
Anna Brouillette
Building Bright Futures Policy and Program Director
Anna Brouillette holds an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she studied Education Policy and Management and served as a Saul Zaentz Fellow and a B.A. in Government from St. Lawrence University. Currently Anna serves as Building Bright Futures (BBF)’s Policy and Program Director where she leads and manages work related to legislative priorities, policy recommendations, family leadership, and more. Anna’s capacity as BBF Policy and Program Director includes extensive network engagement and grant management work, as well as efforts to monitor and evaluate the efficacy of the state's early childhood system and historic investment in child care through Act 76. Prior to joining BBF, Brouillette supported a number of other policy and data initiatives including serving as a Research Associate at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, a Data Coordinator for the Vermont Commission on Women, and Policy and Research Analyst at Let’s Grow Kids.
Erin Roche
Vermont Director for First Children's Finance
Erin Roche launched First Children’s Finance’s Vermont office in 2023 and led the team through Act 76 implementation and ;has now started a podcast, Carpools, Commutes and Child Care. Previously, she worked at Let’s Grow Kids as Director of Operations and Evaluation, overseeing operations, data systems, and program impact. Erin holds an M.S. in Community Development and Applied Economics from the University of Vermont and a B.A. in Behavioral Science from the University of Chicago.
Beth Wallace
Director of Engagement at the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC)
Beth Wallace is the Director of Engagement at the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC), helping to elevate the voices of Vermont’s early childhood educators. Prior to joining VTAEYC, Beth worked at Bennington County Head Start in various roles for nearly thirteen years. When not serving on multiple non-profit and school boards in her home community of Bennington, Beth enjoys spending time with her teenage daughter, yellow lab, and four chickens.
Meet Our Moderator
Johanna de Graffenreid
Public Policy Manager, VBSR
de Graffenreid has nearly 20 years of experience as a community organizer, advocate, lobbyist, campaign director, and trainer – including with businesses and economic development entities. She has a dual degree in Political Science and Women’s & Gender Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master’s degree from Vermont Law and Graduate School.
She has worked on issues ranging from resource extraction to climate justice, the rights of women and girls to rural economic and workforce development. Most recently she managed the Vermont Arts Council’s economic development network, the Vermont Creative Network. Her efforts have taken her across the Southeastern U.S., Gulf Region, Appalachia, New England and the Hudson Valley.