Education & Training

The social science is clear: lifelong education and career training play vital roles in driving economic mobility. From birth through adulthood, learning opportunities that are affordable and accessible serve to close the opportunity gap, strengthen the middle class, and overcome systemic race- and gender-based oppression. Starting with quality childcare and continuing through post-secondary education and career-connected job training, grantmaking will connect to the work of The Curtis Fund, Let’s Grow Kids, and the McClure Foundation in the following areas:

Early childhood education and childcare

With an average cost of $20,000 a year–if you can find a spot–quality childcare is unavailable for many families. By investing in childcare, we can make Vermont a more affordable place to raise a family.

After school and summer learning opportunities

Low-income and historically marginalized students fall behind not in the classroom, but outside the school day. Young people need opportunities to explore interests and build critical thinking skills through expanded classroom, after school, and summertime offerings.

College access and success

Vermont has among the most expensive in-state tuition nationally and fewer than half of high school graduates enroll in college. The good news: when we make college and career training affordable and accessible, Vermonters enroll.

Pathways to promising careers

Career awareness, preparation, and advancement starts early and continues throughout a lifetime. Closing the opportunity gap means making sure that all Vermonters have multiple, viable paths to well-paying, in-demand job opportunities and access to the training and credentials needed to do those jobs.