MA Dept of Early Education and Care

MA Dept of Early Education and Care EEC's mission is to support the healthy growth and development of all children.

Yesterday, Commissioner Amy Kershaw joined Education Secretary Steve Zrike, DHE Commissioner Noe Ortega, DESE Commission...
09/01/2026

Yesterday, Commissioner Amy Kershaw joined Education Secretary Steve Zrike, DHE Commissioner Noe Ortega, DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez, and Children’s Trust Executive Director Jennifer Valenzuela for another Multicultural Media Roundtable ahead of the new school year.

The conversation highlighted the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s investments and initiatives across the education spectrum, while also creating space to hear directly about the issues and concerns communities are experiencing and how we can work together to address them.

It was a valuable opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, learn more about what communities are talking about, and continue strengthening collaboration across education and family-serving systems.

Great news for early education and care in Massachusetts! 🎉Governor Healey has launched EEC’s first-ever Family Advisory...
09/01/2026

Great news for early education and care in Massachusetts! 🎉

Governor Healey has launched EEC’s first-ever Family Advisory Council, bringing together 20 parents and caregivers from across the Commonwealth to help shape child care policies, programs, and resources. Council members will advise EEC on topics including family access and support, child care financial assistance, workforce development, and strategies to strengthen family engagement.

We’re grateful to the inaugural Council members for stepping up to serve and for the time, experiences, and perspectives they will share to help strengthen early education and care for children and families across Massachusetts.

Learn more about the Council at mass.gov/EECFamilyAdvisory, and read the full announcement here: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-launches-first-family-advisory-council-for-early-education-and-care

We’re grateful to the 10,000 educators, providers, families, and partners who follow EEC on Facebook! 🥳 Thank you for st...
08/31/2026

We’re grateful to the 10,000 educators, providers, families, and partners who follow EEC on Facebook! 🥳

Thank you for staying connected with us and helping us share important updates, resources, opportunities, and information with communities across the Commonwealth. We appreciate everyone who follows, shares, and engages with our work as we continue supporting children, families, educators, and early education and care programs throughout Massachusetts. ❤️

Commissioner Amy Kershaw was proud to stand alongside Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Congressw...
08/26/2026

Commissioner Amy Kershaw was proud to stand alongside Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Education Chair State Rep. Ken Gordon, State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Rep. Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino for State Representative, Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, Massachusetts Head Start Association Executive Director Michelle Haimowitz, and Action for Boston Community Development President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler at Head Start in Malden to sound the alarm on proposed federal changes that would weaken Head Start and put critical services for children and families at risk.

It was especially powerful to hear from Carmen, whose firsthand experience showed the lasting impact Head Start can have in changing lives across multiple generations.

More than 10,000 young children in Massachusetts rely on Head Start for early education, health screenings, developmental supports and other essential services. As Commissioner Kershaw said, “We should be building on the strong foundation Head Start has provided for decades — not taking it away from the children, families, and educators who rely on it.”

Read the full press release: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-calls-on-trump-administration-to-reverse-changes-that-would-dismantle-head-start

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care joins families and literacy advocates around the world in mourn...
08/26/2026

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care joins families and literacy advocates around the world in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, a beloved champion for children and early literacy.

Massachusetts was proud to be part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and her extraordinary legacy of putting books into the hands of young children. Her belief in the power of reading will continue to inspire generations of children and families. 📚

Learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: https://imaginationlibrary.com/

Commissioner Amy Kershaw was thrilled to be in Gardner today to celebrate the inaugural grantees of the Employer Child C...
08/25/2026

Commissioner Amy Kershaw was thrilled to be in Gardner today to celebrate the inaugural grantees of the Employer Child Care Innovation Fund (ECCIF), alongside Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones, Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Gardner Mayor Michael J. Nicholson, state and local officials, program leaders, business and community partners, and, of course, the grantees. 🎉

Graciously hosted by Heywood Healthcare, the event was a great opportunity to hear more about the innovative projects and how employers can help address child care challenges. The pilots will also help identify promising approaches that could be adapted across the Commonwealth.

As we heard throughout the day, early education and care is not just a child care issue — it is a workforce development issue, critical to recruitment and retention, and an important economic driver across Massachusetts.

Read the press release: https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-highlights-2-million-to-expand-child-care-options-for-working-families

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has released new model policies, procedures, and guidance to help child care programs...
08/25/2026

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has released new model policies, procedures, and guidance to help child care programs and K-12 schools respond to civil immigration enforcement, protect confidential information, and implement the PROTECT Act ahead of the 2026–2027 school year.

The resources provide clear steps for licensed and state-funded early education and care programs to follow if ICE agents arrive on site or request access to a child or their information, including guidance on designated points of contact, legal review, documenting interactions, family notification, and protecting confidential information.

See the new guidance and resources: https://www.mass.gov/protecting-people-from-ice

📣 PRESS RELEASE: Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $6.6 Million to Strengthen Early Education and Out-of-School Time...
08/21/2026

📣 PRESS RELEASE: Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $6.6 Million to Strengthen Early Education and Out-of-School Time Facilities Across Massachusetts

These investments will help programs improve their spaces and support safe, high-quality learning environments for children and families.

Learn more about the awards and the programs receiving funding: https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-awards-66-million-to-strengthen-early-education-and-out-of-school-time-facilities-across-massachusetts

Hot off the press! 📰 The August 2026 issue of the EEC Newsletter is out.Check it out for agency updates, upcoming events...
08/20/2026

Hot off the press! 📰 The August 2026 issue of the EEC Newsletter is out.

Check it out for agency updates, upcoming events, research highlights, and a spotlight on the incredible work happening across the early childhood community.

And to better serve communities across Massachusetts, the newsletter is available in English, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Spanish. 🌎✨

Read the August 2026 issue here: https://www.mass.gov/news/august-eec-newsletter

We love data! 📊 EEC just released its newest Data Brief, focused on the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) program.The...
08/20/2026

We love data! 📊 EEC just released its newest Data Brief, focused on the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) program.

The brief provides updated findings on C3, drawing on two C3 surveys and recent C3 applications. It covers the state of C3, including program participation, workforce investments, educator wages and turnover, system capacity, and the role of C3 in supporting affordability for families.

View the latest, and other available EEC Data Briefs: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/early-education-and-care-data-briefs

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