{"id":7120,"date":"2024-03-14T18:00:58","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T22:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatormikebrady.org\/?p=7120"},"modified":"2024-03-15T12:19:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T16:19:00","slug":"massachusetts-senate-acts-to-transform-early-education-and-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatormikebrady.org\/2024\/massachusetts-senate-acts-to-transform-early-education-and-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Senate acts to transform early education and care"},"content":{"rendered":"

BOSTON (3\/14\/2024)<\/strong>\u2014Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to make early education and care more accessible and affordable for families across Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

The EARLY ED Act<\/a>\u2014An Act ensuring affordability, readiness and learning for our youth and driving economic development<\/em>\u2014takes transformative steps to improve the affordability and sustainability of childcare programs by making the state\u2019s Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) operational grant program permanent, expanding eligibility for the state\u2019s subsidy program and capping subsidy recipients\u2019 childcare costs at 7 per cent of family income, and boosting compensation for educators by creating a career ladder and providing scholarships and loan forgiveness.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday’s passage of the EARLY ED Act marks a pivotal moment for Massachusetts families. By investing in accessible, affordable, and high-quality early education and care, we’re not just shaping the future of our youth; we’re driving economic development and ensuring equity for all,\u201d said State Senator Michael D. Brady (D-Brockton)<\/strong>. \u201cThis legislation is a significant investment in our children’s future and underscores our commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities across the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n

By extending access to high-quality education and care to families who currently lack access because of cost or availability, the bill seeks to set children up for future success and drive the Massachusetts economy forward.<\/p>\n

The bill would make the state\u2019s C3 grants permanent, which provides monthly payments directly to early education and care providers. The grants, which provide monthly payments to more than 92 per cent of early education and care programs across the Commonwealth, have become a national model thanks to their success at keeping programs\u2019 doors open during the pandemic, reducing tuition costs for families, increasing compensation for early educators, and expanding the number of childcare slots available.<\/p>\n

The legislation improves affordability by expanding eligibility for childcare subsidies to families making up to 85 per cent of the state median income (SMI), which is $124,000 for a family of four. It eliminates cost-sharing fees for families receiving subsidies who are below the federal poverty line, and caps cost-sharing fees for all other families receiving subsidies at seven percent of their income, putting millions of dollars back into families\u2019 pockets. Finally, the bill paves the way for expanding the subsidy program to families making up to 125 per cent SMI, or $182,000 for a family of four, when future funds become available.<\/p>\n

The legislation provides much-needed support for educators by directing the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to establish a career ladder with recommended salaries. This career ladder will help increase salaries in this historically underpaid field. The bill would also make scholarship and loan forgiveness programs for early educators permanent, as well as direct the state to explore more innovative ways to develop this crucial workforce.<\/p>\n

Notably, the bill would also create an innovative public-private matching grant pilot program, which would incentivize employers to invest in new early education and care slots, with priority given to projects serving families with lower income and those who are located in childcare deserts. In addition, the bill tasks the Administration with completing a study to further analyze ways to incentivize or require employers to partner with the state to expand access to high-quality and affordable early education and care.<\/p>\n

The bill also includes provisions that would:<\/p>\n