Time to prioritize early education and child care – Lowell Sun
By Cecile Tousignant
It’s time to prioritize spending on early education and child care at the statehouse! Our legislators overwhelmingly acknowledge that Massachusetts working families need affordable, accessible high-quality child care, and that the current system is in crisis.
In March, the special legislative Early Education and Care Economic Review Commission submitted its final report, recommending a minimum of approximately $1.3 billion annually for the childcare sector.
Since August 2021, the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant has helped to stabilize child care programs and prevented hundreds of providers from closing by making use of federal funds. The success of the C3 program suggests this grant should become a permanent financing vehicle used to expand access for children, enhance parent affordability, and invest in workforce compensation. Extension of the C3 Stabilization Grant Program for all early education and care providers is critical to sustain a stable childcare system.