Policy Pulse #16
In each issue of the Policy Pulse, we share an overview of what’s happening in Massachusetts and national child care policy and information on what you can do to take action and join the movement for a transformed early education and care system. You’ll also find resources, reports, and advocacy tools. In this issue we share key updates from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) board meeting, a new resource tracking the implementation of the 2024 Massachusetts Early Education reforms, and the impacts of the federal government shutdown on early education and care. Let’s dive in.
What To Know
The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Held its September Board Meeting
The Board of Massachusetts’ Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) most recently met on October 15, 2025. Important decisions about the early education and care sector are made at monthly EEC board meetings, and you can read the wrap-up here! Some highlights from the October board meeting are:
An update on the family and educator portals
A discussion about the Career Pathways student survey
A vote on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget priorities and maintaining the current Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) formula; read more here!
Massachusetts Early Education and Care Reforms: Progress Report
In July 2024, the Massachusetts State Legislature passed a set of landmark policy reforms for the early education and care sector through the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Neighborhood Villages created a fact sheet reviewing the reforms and the progress that has been made in the first year since the reforms were passed. You can check it out here!
Massachusetts Launches Initiative to Expand Capacity through Employer-Supported Child Care
This month, the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Executive Offices of Economic Development (EOED) and Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) launched the Employer Child Care Innovation Fund. This pilot program is aimed at expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care for working families through employer-supported child care. Priority will be given to employers in certain sectors, rural areas, and those with child care shortages and other equity factors. Notably, employers must partner with not-for-profit providers and/or family child care providers. You can find more information here.
Federal Government Shutdown Is Ongoing
The federal government has been shut down for 28 days. On October 1, 2025, the federal government shut down after Congress failed to successfully pass a bill to authorize continued funding for the government. The shutdown has led to the pausing of some government operations and 750,000 government employees being furloughed, temporarily suspended, or discharged from their jobs. Also, the Trump Administration is using the shutdown to pursue reductions in the federal workforce. The Preschool Development Grant and Community Services Block Grant staff of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Offices of Civil Rights (OCR) and Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) of the Department of Education all have had layoffs. OSERS administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A judge recently temporarily halted the layoffs. If the shutdown continues past November 1st, there might be potential impacts to Head Start, SNAP, and WIC funding in Massachusetts and around the country.
Experts share that SNAP recipients should continue to complete recertification documents so benefits resume as soon as the shutdown ends.
If you need help finding information about food programs, you can contact Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1(800)-645-8333. The United Way also launched the United Response Fund. It will provide funding of up to $50,000 to community-based organizations for Partner Stabilization and Family Emergency Financial Assistance (FEFA), which include food banks and organizations addressing food security across the state.
If the Shutdown Continues into November, It Will Impact Head Start in Massachusetts
Six of Massachusetts’ twenty nine Head Start programs have annual funding cycles that end on October 31st. If the federal government shutdown continues to November 1st, these six programs will not have access to federal funds, which is their primary source of funding. Although Head Start will have access to funding from state supplemental Head Start and Commonwealth Cares for Children grants, individual Head Start programs will have to evaluate whether they should stay open, shut down, or lay off staff.
What To Do
Advocate on Behalf of SNAP
Today, October 28th, from 12pm-1pm, the Make Hunger History Coalition is gathering on the State House steps to rally for SNAP funding. You can RSVP to the rally here! Linked here is Children’s HealthWatch’s organizational statement for additional context.
Advocate on Behalf of Head Start
Tomorrow, October 29th, the First Five Years Fund (FFYF), the National Head Start Association (NHSA), and other national organizations that advocate for children, families, and providers are gathering for an End the Shutdown and Protect Head Start Day of Action. To participate, you can:
Check out FFYF’s toolkit for resources to post for the Day of Action;
On October 28th and 29th, email your networks encouraging them to take action and reach out to their Congressional representatives. They can email them directly or use FFYF’s Action Center; and
On October 29th between 11am and 1pm, post to your social media accounts and encourage your network to spread the word and encourage Congress to end the shutdown.
You can also advocate on behalf of Head Start and SNAP by reaching out to your Congressional representatives and senators. Find their contact information here.
Tune into Mayor Michelle Wu’s State of the Schools Address
Today, October 28th, at 7pm, Mayor Michelle Wu will make the first ever State of the Schools address. She will celebrate Boston’s educators and lay out an agenda to make Boston Public Schools the first choice for Boston families. You can find more information about the event and RSVP here.
What’s Next
The next meeting of the EEC Board of Directors will be on November 12th at 1pm at the Boston EEC Office. A full schedule of meetings as well as recordings and meeting materials can be found here. We will share a full recap of this meeting in the issue of the Policy Pulse that comes out after the meeting.
Beginning on November 1st, all programs currently receiving operational funding through Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) will be required to update their grant applications, including by affirming their willingness to enroll children who receive Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA).
The Massachusetts State Legislature continues hearings throughout the fall, including on bills that could impact families with young children. All hearings and opportunities to give testimony are posted here. We will also keep you posted as relevant hearings are scheduled.
Election Day, including several local mayoral races, city council races, and ballot initiatives, is on Tuesday, November 4th.