Add Comment

Participation in early education gives children a significant advantage in later education and life.  High-quality early childhood education reduces the likelihood that children will be enrolled in special education classes, increases high school graduation rates, and improves performance on school achievement tests.  It also lessens the childcare burden on families, a particular boon to working lower- and middle-class families.  

However, according to a 2006 report by the Early Education for All Campaign, the Commonwealth’s accredited existing preschool programs are capable of handling only 22% of all preschool-aged children.  This problem is beginning to be addressed – the Massachusetts Legislature approved funding for a Universal Pre-Kindergarten Pilot Program in Fiscal Year 2007 and increased it in FY ’08.  Thus far, the program has provided grants to 131 programs around the state enabling them to take a variety of steps to enhance their provision of early childhood education.  

This state program must be expanded to provide funding to all elementary schools, community centers, and child care providers around the state to ensure not only that they are able to provide pre-kindergarten, but that it is of the highest quality.  

State grants can be used to hire more qualified teachers or to expand the benefits offered to current teachers, increase the number of children the programs are equipped to handle, provide teachers and students with additional technology or resources, or in other ways enable schools to meet their unique early childhood education challenges as they see fit.  Because there is a shortage of qualified early childhood educators, state funding should be set aside to create a scholarship fund and subsidize other professional development.  As the program is initially being expanded, a great deal of flexibility would be necessary to enable schools to experiment and determine what worked best for them.

5)    Expand the network of high quality early education centers

6)    Provide professional development opportunities for early childhood caregivers

7)    Improve nutrition and physical activity opportunities in regulated child-care sites