Our mission.
Vermont has 1 059 licensed and registered child care programs, spread across small towns, villages, and a handful of cities. The information about them lives in several state databases — DCF licensing files, BFIS, the STARS registry — none of which were designed for a parent trying to compare options at midnight.
VermontDaycares merges those sources into a single, readable index. Each provider page shows contact details, licensed capacity, current vacancies, and STARS quality ratings — all refreshed from DCF's Child Development Division data on a weekly cycle.
Think of it as a field guide to child care in the Green Mountain State: organized by town, honest about what we know and when we last checked.
STARS Quality Rating
Vermont's STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) is a voluntary quality recognition system for early childhood programs. Programs earn 1 to 5 stars based on criteria including:
- Staff qualifications and professional development
- Learning environment and curriculum
- Program administration and leadership
- Family and community engagement
- Regulatory compliance history
A higher STARS rating indicates a stronger commitment to quality care.
Data Sources
- Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) — Child Development Division
- Vermont Open Data Portal (data.vermont.gov)
- Bright Futures Information System (BFIS)
Important context
VermontDaycares is a community project with no organizational relationship to DCF, the State of Vermont, or any government body. Because we refresh weekly, a provider's status could change between updates — new licenses issued, programs closed, capacity adjusted. Before making any enrollment decision, contact DCF or the provider directly to confirm current details.