2026 Quality and Capacity Annual Payment

Act 76, the 2023 child care and early childhood education law, created a Child Care Quality and Capacity Incentive Program to support family child care homes, center-based child care and preschool programs, and afterschool programs in increasing or maintaining capacity and improving quality.

The Child Development Division will offer annual quality and capacity incentive payments as one element of this program. Child care providers have flexibility in how they use the payments to support quality, access, and inclusion. The intent of the payment is to support the availability of high-quality child care across the state, especially for infants and toddlers, families that need full-time or extended hours of care, and children with specialized needs.

To be eligible for payment from this program, you must meet the following criteria:

Have an active registered or licensed family child care home (FCCH), center-based child care and preschool program (CBCCPP), or afterschool child care program (ASP) license from the State of Vermont.
Be open and serving children as of the date of your application.
Intend to stay open and serve children through at least June 2027.
Currently accept or are able to accept payments from the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) on behalf of children in your care AND charge tuition to families for child care services, or be a Head Start recipient.

For more information about this program, please visit dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/providers/QCIP

Contact Person

First NameLast Name

Program Name

List your program name as listed in the Bright Futures Information System (BFIS). If you are a registered Family Child Care Home, list your first and last name.

License Number

The license number is on your license certificate.

Phone Number

Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.

Email

example@example.com

Please select your program type as indicated on your license certificate.

Are you a Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program?

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Please enter your current enrollment numbers per age category and children's schedule.

Rows	# of Children Enrolled Part-Time (1-25 hours a week)	# of Children Enrolled Full-Time (26-50 hours a week)	# of Children Enrolled in Extended Care (50+ hours a week)
Infant (Children from birth to 24 months of age.)
Toddler (Children 2 to 3 years of age.)
Preschooler (Children 3 years to kindergarten age.)
School-Age (Children enrolled in school, 5 years of age or older.)

What is the program's operating schedule?

If your program operates part of the year, how many months are you open?

Does your program operate 45+ hours a week?

Signature