On Friday, June 30, the Conference Committee on the Fiscal Year 2007 state budget issued its report that ironed out the differences in the respective House and Senate versions of the budget. We are pleased to report that the following key priorities of the Early Education for All Campaign were included in this final version of the budget:

$4.6M for pilot projects as part of the new Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program (3000-5075);

$100K for the Department of Early Education and Care to develop core competencies for those working with children in early education programs (3000-1000);

$250K for the Department of Early Education and Care to develop a quality rating system for early education and care programs participating in the new universal pre-kindergarten program (3000-6000);

$12.5M for a subsidized child care provider salary rate reserve (1599-0042);

$1M increase for Head Start (3000-5000);

$1.3M increase for Resource and Referral Agencies (3000-2000);

$2M increase for the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship (7070-0065);

$2M in increased funding for the Kindergarten Expansion Grants for full-day kindergarten (7030-1002).

The budget is now on Governor Romney’s desk for approval and possible vetoes and will return to the Legislature for possible veto overrides by Monday, July 10. We urge you to contact Governor Romney's office at 617-725-4005 to ask him to preserve these important investments in early education and care.