Welcome to the Rising Stars of Massachusetts 2010!

Since January, children across Massachusetts have sent thousands of decorated "Rising Stars" to Governor Patrick and members of the House of Representatives urging them to preserve and protect the progress the commonwealth has made on behalf of young children and families and high quality early-education and care. Now we need to send the same message and more stars to the members of the Massachusetts Senate.

The state’s ongoing fiscal crisis promises to make the budget process for fiscal year 2011 particularly challenging. Yet the need to provide high-quality early education and care for young children in Massachusetts—our “rising stars”—remains as urgent as ever.

Join the Rising Stars Express and send an urgent message to Beacon Hill: Preserve and protect the progress the commonwealth has made on behalf of young children and their families.

You can help by asking the children in your program to decorate paper stars, writing a letter to the Legislature, and getting families involved. Click the links to the right for more information.

The legislature is busy preparing the FY11 budget. Please send your stars to the state house by May 17 – the earlier the better!

For more information about Rising Stars of Massachusetts 2010 please contact Mike McLaughlin, EEA Field Director at 617-778-6448.