EEA advocates for increased funding in the state budget each year to implement the Universal Pre-Kingergarten (UPK) Program; strengthen the current foundation of early education and care programs; improve professional development opportunities for early educators; and to expand access to full-day public school kindergarten.

View a summary of early education in the FY09 state budget.

View a summary of early education in the FY08 state budget.

On July 31, 2008 Governor Deval Patrick signed An Act Relative to Early Education and Care (H.4706) into law. This landmark bill, sponsored by Education Committee Co-Chairs Senator Robert Antonioni and Representative Patricia Haddad, which was passed unanimously by both the House and Senate, formally establishes the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Program in the Commonwealth, subject to appropriation. It codifies in state law, and helps shape future directions for, a range of programs the Department of Early Education and Care has been developing and implementing since its creation three years ago.

Learn more about the law.

Governor Deval Patrick calls for universal pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten as part of his comprehensive education reform “Education Action Agenda"  In September 2007, the Governor appointed 150 citizens from across the state, from a multitude of professional disciplines, to develop a strategic plan to implement his vision for education in the Commonwealth.

Learn more about the "Education Action Agenda "

The first-in-nation Board and consolidated Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) was created in 2005. Among it statutory responsibilities is to oversee the development and implementation of a program of voluntary, universally accessible high-quality early childhood education for young children and families in the Commonwealth.

View an update on the Department of EEC.