EEA advocates for increased funding in the state budget each year to implement the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (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 the Fiscal Year 2011 budget update.

View a summary of early education in the FY10 state budget.

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

On July 31, 2008 Governor Deval Patrick signed An Act Relative to Early Education and Care (formerly H.4706) into law as Chapter 215 of the Acts of 2008. 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.

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.

Visit the Department of EEC website for updates.