BOSTON — Discussions on early education and child care policies are reaching a critical stage as the Healey administration announced plans for twelve sessions from July to early August to gather input on the sector’s current status.
These sessions aim to assist the Early Education and Child Care Task Force in developing strategies for improving access to high-quality and affordable child care on a more equitable basis. The Senate has already endorsed a plan to achieve these goals, and ongoing negotiations for the annual budget are expected to bring about significant changes that could reshape early education.
Governor Maura Healey established the task force in January through an executive order, mandating annual reports. Officials emphasize the sector’s importance in preparing young children for K-12 success and supporting parental employment.
July is poised to be pivotal for early education and child care. Both legislative branches have backed sector investments in the fiscal 2025 budgets currently under negotiation by a conference committee. The Senate has passed a bill expanding eligibility for state child care subsidies and capping costs for subsidy recipients, awaiting a vote in the House Ways and Means Committee. Senate President Karen Spilka has termed this bill crucial, urging House consideration.
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The Senate bill broadens subsidy eligibility to families earning up to 85% of the state median income ($124,000 for a family of four), eliminates cost-sharing for subsidy recipients below the federal poverty line, and lays groundwork for future expansion to families earning up to 125% of the state median income ($182,000 for a family of four), pending additional funding.
A similar Senate bill failed without a House vote in the previous legislative session, with no indication from top House Democrats on its current scheduling.
At the outset of the current session, House Speaker Ron Mariano highlighted early education as a priority, emphasizing support for the predominantly female and often minority early education workforce. He praised previous session efforts to raise wages and support early educators, expressing confidence in further legislative action.
Implementing the Senate bill will require substantial new investments, noted Education Committee Co-chair Sen. Jason Lewis, while Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr expressed concern over its financial implications.
The Common Start Coalition supports the Senate bill and advocates for additional early education measures entangled in budget deliberations. In a letter to the budget conference committee, the coalition commended the potential for a historic level of funding for early education and child care in the annual budget, heralding policy changes aimed at enhancing affordability, improving educator compensation and benefits, ensuring stable funding for providers, and fostering high-quality programs for children.
Both budget proposals include provisions to formalize the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program, allocate $475 million for operational grants in fiscal 2025, allocate $774 million for ongoing child care assistance, and earmark $20 million to boost reimbursement rates for providers enrolling children receiving financial assistance.
Reflecting the depth of early education priorities across competing budgets, the coalition outlined six supported measures in the House budget and twelve initiatives in the Senate budget in its letter.
“While both chambers have prioritized distinct policies in their respective budgets, reconciling these complementary proposals will be crucial. Massachusetts stands ready to enact early education and care legislation through the budget, enhancing affordability for families, boosting the state’s economic competitiveness, and advancing racial and gender equity in communities.”
The twelve listening sessions include five virtual sessions, including one conducted in Spanish. The first session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, at the Lynn campus of North Shore Community College.