All children would have access to the powerful positive effects of early education, which is correlated with better educational outcomes and fewer assignments to special education. Minority and low income students that attended early education programs are 40% less likely to need special education or be held back and are better prepared for kindergarten. Children are also more likely to be literate. Recent studies suggest that the state would see a benefit of $1.18 for every $1 invested in early education.

Currently, there are 6,400 license-exempt or licensed School Age Child Care (SACC) and Family Child Care programs in the region, with a total capacity of 67,000 children (approximately 12% of the region’s 5- 14 year old population.) 23% of participating children receive subsidies administered by MA Department of Education and Care, and approximately 2,700 children are on the waitlist. The ratio of waitlisted children to those receiving subsidies is 0.25, though 32 municipalities have a waitlist ratio higher than 0.5.

Objectives:

• No municipality will have a waitlist for SACC or EEC subsidies that is more than 25% of the number of subsidized children.
• The region’s capacity in licensed and licensed exempt after school programs will be a growing percentage of the region’s 5 – 14 population.