Two bills could help Mass. fix child care problems by boosting wages, accessibility – Worcester Telegram & Gazette
By Kinga Borondy
Without legislative action to fund grants, increase wages for early childhood education workers and open the door for more families to qualify for financial assistance to pay for care, Massachusetts stands to lose its dedicated pre-K teaching workforce.
“Teachers can’t afford to do the job,” said Jarred Rose, pre-K teacher in Stoughton and co-chair of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. He has seen teachers leave their jobs and even leave Massachusetts because they can no longer afford housing, commuting and living costs. “Our teachers love their jobs, love working with children, but can’t afford to do it anymore.”
Rose, who went from a position in the state Senate as a legislative aide to his current position as a teacher, was speaking at an information session in support of two bills Wednesday.
The bills would provide direct funding to care centers and increase workers' wages. The measures would also provide financial assistance to more families seeking care for their offspring. The state estimates that 16,000 children are on waiting lists for placement in early education centers. The nuts and bolts of the funding sources and delivery of financial aide to centers was not addressed in either bill.
The sponsor of the House bill, Kenneth Gordon, D-Bedford, told the State House News Service that the support for the measure is clear.
"I think it's a priority for all of us. It's a question of looking into the details about where the funding comes from, how it's going to be organized and arranged and really just the 'how to's.' It's not about the 'should we's.' It's the 'how to's,'" Gordon said.