Policy Pulse #22
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. In each edition, you will also find resources, reports, and advocacy tools. In this issue, we highlight the latest in research and data for early childhood education (ECE) in MA, update you on the state budget process and the recent Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Board meeting, invite you to take action, and let you know what’s coming up next. Let’s dive in!
What To Know
Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2027 State Budget Update
The Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means (HWM) released its budget proposal for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 state budget, which invests more than $1.8 billion for early education and care. The proposal increases funding for the Commonwealth’s public Child Care Financial Assistance program and level funds the Commonwealth Cares for Children program and Head Start, as compared to last fiscal year. The budget proposal is now in front of the full House of Representatives for debate, amendments, and passage. The budget will then be taken up by the MA Senate Committee on Ways and Means and then by the full Senate.
Check out our fact sheet with more information on select line items in the House Ways and Means budget proposal here.
Fiscal Year 2026 Fair Share Supplemental Budget Proposal Heads to Conference Committee
In January, when Governor Healey released her FY2027 budget proposal, she also released a FY2026 supplemental budget proposal, which would appropriate surplus funds specifically from the Massachusetts Fair Share Surtax. In March, the House voted to pass its supplemental budget proposal. On April 9, 2026, the Senate voted to pass its supplemental budget proposal, which includes $15 million for Literacy Launch (an initiative dedicated to improving early literacy from age 3 to grade 3 in Massachusetts) and transfers $150 million from the Education and Transportation Innovation Fund to the High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund. The House and Senate budget proposals now go in front of a Conference Committee made up of House and Senate members, to reconcile differences between the two bills.
The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Held its April Board Meeting
The Board of Massachusetts’ Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) most recently met on April 8, 2026. 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 April board meeting are:
A discussion on Friend, Family, and Neighbor Care;
An update on EEC’s Residential Programs regulation revisions; and
An update on EEC’s new Family Portal.
Federal Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Update
The Federal Government’s budget season has begun, with the release of President Donald Trump’s budget proposal. The President’s budget proposal recommends increasing funding for national defense to $1.5 trillion, a 42% increase, while level funding Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and eliminating funding for the Preschool Development (PDG) and Community Services Block Grants (CSBG). CCBDG funds Massachusetts’ CCFA program, which subsidizes child care for eligible families with low incomes. Over the last several years, Massachusetts has received funding from PDG to improve the early childhood sector. Many Community Action Programs in MA are funded in part by CSBG and run Head Start programs. To note: President Trump’s budget proposal is not law, as it is Congress’ responsibility to produce a federal budget. Congress will now move forward with its budget process.
Members of Congress Launch Child Care for America Working Group
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray created the Child Care for America working group. The group will bring Democratic members from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives together to address child care affordability and accessibility. With Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bobby Scott as House co-leads, the group is working together to write legislation that could be ready for passage, should Democrats gain control of Congress after the 2026 midterms.
Massachusetts Secretary of Education Dr. Stephen Zrike Jr.’s First Day
On March 30, Dr. Stephen Zrike Jr. assumed his role as Massachusetts’ Secretary of Education. We welcome Secretary Zrike and look forward to working alongside him to support children and families.
Early Childhood Educator Scholarship Application Now Open
The Early Childhood Educator Scholarship Program is open and accepting applications. The scholarship provides financial assistance towards a college certificate or degree at an eligible college or university in Massachusetts. Individuals who work or plan to begin working at an EEC licensed or funded family child care (FCC) or (FCC) system, center-based, after school or out-of-school time, or residential placement program are eligible to apply. You can find more information here.
EEC and MOOR Announce New Outdoor Resource Hub
The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) partnered with EEC to create a new resource, Outdoor Start, which provides information to support early childhood education programs and families to engage with nature. The hub is an output resulting from the work of Governor Healey's Inter-Agency Early Education and Child Care Task Force.
What To Do
Support Childcare Changemakers’ A Day Without Child Care
On May 11, Childcare Changemakers, a project of Community Change Action, will be having their fifth annual Day Without Child Care to demand public investment for children and families. You can sign their pledge, sign up to host an event, and find more information here.
Stay Up to Date as the Massachusetts FY2027 Budget Season Continues to Unfold
Now is the most critical time to ensure that the early education sector’s priorities are reflected in the final FY2027 state budget. With the budget now under review by the House of Representatives, it is imperative that legislators on Beacon Hill hear from advocates like you!
Our key priorities for the early education and care sector include:
Increased funding for the Commonwealth Cares for Children operations grants program.
Increased funding for Massachusetts’ Child Care Financial Assistance program.
Increased funding for Head Start.
Continued funding for Child Care Financial Assistance for early educators seeking to enroll their child in care.
Find your legislators and their contact information via the Massachusetts Legislature’s look-up tool here: malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Contact Your Federal Legislators!
As we enter federal budget season, now is the time to stand up for Massachusetts children and families. Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) are essential lifelines, providing early education and financial assistance for child care to thousands across our state. Head Start alone supports over 10,000 families in Massachusetts, and CCDBG helps working parents afford the care their children need to thrive. We can't afford to lose these vital programs. Contact your federal representatives today and urge them to protect and fully fund programs that support children and families like Head Start and CCDBG. You can find their contact information here.
What’s Next
The next information session on the Commonwealth’s Loan Repayment program for early educators will be on April 29 at 7pm.
Join Neighborhood Villages and Strategies for Children on Thursday, May 7 from 6:30-7:30pm on Zoom for another Budget Breakdown where we'll review the next phase of the state budget process, the Massachusetts House's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal, and talk about next steps in our continued advocacy for early education and care. Everyone is welcome with registration. Interpretation from English to Spanish and Portuguese will be provided by Excel Linguistics. This meeting will be recorded. You can register here.
The next meeting of the EEC Board of Directors will be on May 13 at 1pm. 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 next issue of the Policy Pulse.