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    MARCH 2019
Preschool expansion continues in Massachusetts

The Department of Early Education and Care recently awarded new state-funded preschool grants. Known as the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), the program awarded funding to six communities: New Bedford, North Adams, Somerville, Springfield, Lowell, and Boston. The funds will support preschool programs from February 1 through June 30, 2019. EEC expects to renew these grants in fiscal year 2020.

This round of preschool expansion is funded with state dollars. However, more state funds will be needed in FY2020 to meet the demand for preschool in other communities. A total of 12 communities applied for the CPPI grant, and at least three additional communities wanted to apply but didn’t because of their limited time and capacity to meet the January 4th deadline. Since 2015, five Massachusetts communities have met the growing demand for preschool by using federal Preschool Expansion Grant (PEG) funds. The PEG program funds 48 pre-K classrooms in these communities, and the funding supports approximately 850 children annually. But this federal support will expire this summer. Read more.
 
Governor Baker’s FY20 budget proposal

On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, Governor Charlie Baker released a $42.7 billion state budget for fiscal year 2020. The governor’s budget includes a $200 million increase in Chapter 70 state aid for K-12 public education. This is part of a larger proposal to overhaul the state funding formula. Funding for early education and care would continue to increase under Governor Baker’s proposal, which includes increases for Supportive and TANF child care (line item 3000-3060) as well as for Quality Improvement (3000-1020). The Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (3000-6025) – a line item critical for the state’s ongoing preschool expansion efforts – was funded at $2.5 million. And an early educator salary rate reserve (3000-1042) was not included in the governor’s proposal. For a complete list of early education line items, please go to our budget page, and visit MassBudget.org for a full analysis of Governor Baker’s budget.

 

Check out our Eye on Early Education blog for recent stories you may have missed.

The documentary film “No Small Matter” adds screenings in Massachusetts, March 7

Advocacy Day at the Massachusetts State House – March 13, 2019, March 5

In quotes: “What we’re fighting about when we are fighting about our profession”, February 22

Governors across the country are taking action on early education, February 19

A call for K-12 and early education to stand and work together, February 14

The economic power of the nation’s child care industry, February 12

In Memoriam: Edward Zigler the “father of Head Start”, February 11
 

Mission: Readiness @Mission_Ready  Mar 7
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Ken Perry speaking at @firstfiveyears Congressional briefing on Preschool Development Grants: "When we have strong education, we have a much stronger nation. We have to focus on policies that set children on track for success starting at birth." #PDGbthru5

Dan Wuori @DanWuori  Feb 25
Opening Day 2 of @NAEYC ’s #PPF19, President @AmyEO reminds those assembled of their responsibility to help shape policy: “It’s not enough to simply clap when someone mentions #childcare or #preK, it’s our job to tell them what it looks like.” #ecewins @SupportEarlyEd @RhianNAEYC

NAEYC @NAEYC  Feb 26
And we thank you @PattyMurray for being a champion for #ChildCare4all. We will definitely never give up fighting for access to high-quality #ECE for all our children and families! #PPF19 @SupportEarlyEd #ChildCareNow

UMass Boston Early Ed Institute @IEELIInstitute  Feb 22
WEEKEND READING: Children’s lit stimulates a child’s imagination & helps them develop language & critical thinking skills. There are lessons on the pages for adults, too, writes @mariarussonyt, children’s books editor at The New York Times Book Review.

MisterRogersQuotes @MisterRogersSay  Feb 20
“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say "It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem." Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”

Zaentz Early Ed ‏@ZaentzHarvardEd  Feb 20
Is universal early care and education becoming a nationwide platform? @wbur looks into the increasing importance of #ECE for all https://wbur.fm/2DXO1gf  @OnPointRadio

Laura Bornfreund ‏@LBornfreund  Feb 11
Time to put universal affordable, high-quality child care and education at top of policy agenda: https://nyti.ms/2E1poAF  #ece

 

 

notes from Amy

The MA 2019-2020 legislative session started the first week of January with the swearing in of Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito and all 200 legislators. Almost 4,000 bills were filed by the January 18 deadline, giving legislators just over two weeks to sponsor and co-sponsor legislation. Leaders were elected in each chamber. Congratulations to Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka. Legislative Committee chairs and members were appointed including Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Education, Representative Alice Peisch and Senator Jason Lewis.

There are 30 “first year” legislators who were elected in November – five state senators and 25 state representatives. We are planning visits with each legislator and their staff to share information about the early education landscape in Massachusetts. It is a great opportuity to learn more about why they ran for public office and what they hope to accomplish. Check out photos from our visits on social media.

Governor Baker released his budget proposal for FY20. The MA House of Representatives will release its proposal in April and the MA Senate will release its proposal in May.

It is time for action! Make sure you know who represents you in the State House. Share this information with friends and family! Send a letter of congratulations, plan a visit to the State House, invite legislators to visit your program or attend a meeting or event in your commuity.

For our elected officials, it is like the beginning of the school year – lots of excitement, getting to know new people and learning many different things. It is a great time to get to know your elected officials and to let them know how much you care about young children, families and early educators!

Join us on Wednesday, March 13 at the State House for the annual Advocacy Day for Early Education and Out-of-School Time Programs. If you can’t make it to the State House, call your legislators to share your budget priorities, and invite them to come visit your program.

Let’s get to work!

 
 
617.330.7380           400 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02110           info@earlyeducationforall.org
Strategies for Children works to ensure that Massachusetts invests the resources needed for all children, from birth to age five, to access high-quality early education programs that prepare them for success in school and life.
 
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