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Universal Pre-Kindergarten
 One of the goals of the Early Education for All (EEA) Campaign is to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality pre-kindergarten education, which meets professionally accepted standards, is staffed by well-trained early educators, and is delivered through a mix of public and private programs.
Investing in High-Quality Pre-k is Essential:
Children who participate in high-quality early childhood education develop better language skills, score higher in school-readiness tests and have better social skills and fewer behavioral problems once they enter school.
Research demonstrates that high-quality early education improves school readiness, increases academic achievement and provides a 16% return on every dollar invested.
Low-income children who participate in high-quality early childhood education are:
 40% less likely to need special education or be held back a grade;
30% more likely to graduate from high school; and
Twice as likely to go to college.
Click here for more about the importance of investing in high-quality early education.
Initiatives Underway in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) grant program provides resources to existing early education programs to help them meet and sustain quality standards.
The state Legislature created the UPK program in the FY07 state budget. Since then, UPK has received $30.67 million in cumulative funding, and currently benefits 293 programs serving over 6,600 children in 97 cities and towns across the state. View the complete list of FY10 UPK Classroom Quality Grant recipients.
Click here to follow UPK in the FY11 state budget.
A September 2008 evaluation by Abt Associates showed that the UPK program was being implemented successfully, achieving its initial goal of promoting high-quality early education for young children and families in Massachusetts.
Read What Early Educators are Saying about UPK:
"UPK has allowed us to not only dream dreams of what we can do to stimulate children's curiosity and learning, but it also has given us the resources to actually make this happen in all our classrooms."
-Diana Makhlouf, Director, Malden Early Education and Learning Program
"We are proud to be a chosen provider of Universal Pre-School. The support that Ellis Memorial receives through this funding initiative (UPK) has enriched our programs and the children and families we serve."
-Leo Delaney, CEO, Ellis Memorial Children's Center Read Leo's complete remarks.
"The Teaching staff at the Garelick Early Learning Center are truly honored to be a part of such unique and creative vision in ensuring that all our children in the state of Massachusetts receive high-quality early education and care. We believe that by implementing the Universal Pre-K program, the state of Massachusetts is setting the bar high and rightly so. There is no better way to spend our dollars today for the betterment of our communities tomorrow."
-Mary Varr, Child Care Director, Garelick Early Learning Center at the Hockomock Area YMCA
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