Early Childhood Education and Care Highlights from Massachusetts FY 2021 Senate Ways & Means Budget

The Massachusetts FY 2021 Budget from the MA Senate Ways & Means committee was recently released.

For your information, here is the section about Early Childhood Education and Care from the Executive Summary (click on the linked text to read the entire budget)

“Early Education and Care

The Commonwealth has a strong system of care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families; and during this unprecedented public health crisis, ensuring the sustainability of early education and care providers, while supporting families is an urgent priority. The Committee’s budget seeks to maintain the growth and development of all children during this pandemic, while investing $820 million to stabilize our early educator workforce, address the increased operational costs faced by providers, and protect access to high quality early childhood opportunities for low-income families.

• $286.7M for Income-Eligible Childcare and $350.9M for Supportive and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Childcare, providing critical childcare services for low-income families.

• $40M for a new reserve to cover parent fees for families receiving subsidized childcare for the remainder of FY 2021.

• $25M for a new Early Education and Care Workforce and COVID-19 Supports Reserve to provide classroom stabilization grants, incentive pay for providers, and support for increased operational costs due to COVID-19.

• $16.4M for the Healthy Families program, administered by the Children’s Trust Fund, to provide family support and coaching for young, first-time parents.

• $15M for grants to Head Start programs to maintain access to early education services for low-income families.

• $10.1M for Childcare Resource and Referral Centers to assist parents, childcare providers, employers and community groups in navigate the state’s early education and care landscape.

• $5M for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative to expand access to preschool in underserved areas.

• $2.5M for early childhood mental health consultation services.”

Photo: Michael J. Rodrigues The Senate Ways and Means Committe Chair Official State Photo