MA Department of Early Education and Care

The Early Childhood Educator Scholarship offers financial assistance towards a college degree for prospective and currently employed educators who work in family child care, center-based, after/out-of-school time, residential & placement program or an FCC system that is licensed or funded by EEC.  Applications open in early May. To join a virtual info session, please register here: https://ow.ly/FbtB50Vysws

Thanks to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield for hosting the April meeting of the Board of the Department of Early Education and Care. We had a wonderful time touring the facility, meeting the dedicated educators and spending time with the children. We appreciate those who tuned in for another productive Board meeting sharing progress and updates. Special thanks to the Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Butterfly rooms for letting us visit to sing, draw and play with the kids 🤩🦋 View the Board meeting recording here: https://ow.ly/hCyE50VxSjz

The Board of the Department of Early Education and Care meets at 1 p.m. today Livestream: https://ow.ly/Lqnj50VvT6S Agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/l8p250Vx2Tc

For "Tasty Tuesday" during #WeekOfTheYoungChild, we are grateful in Massachusetts for the Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (FRESH) grants that support National School Lunch Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program sponsors to start or expand their capacity to grow or procure local food and educate students, teachers, school nutrition professionals and staff about the local food system. "This grant program helps our youngest learners explore where their food comes from, how it is prepared, and what a nutritious meal looks like – contributing to rich and healthy relationships with food while building community with local farmers and the larger food system," said EEC Commissioner Amy Kershaw. Read the recent press release here: https://lnkd.in/gQYUwxxx (Photos from 2023)

A little rain didn't dim the energy for our visit this morning to Triumph, Inc., a Head Start program in Taunton, MA. We were happy to join Cheryl Hovey, president of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAAEYC) to bring new books to classrooms and spend time reading and kicking off #WeekOfTheYoungChild 📚 Thanks to educators Julie, Chelsea and Alivia and for welcoming us to your classrooms! Learn more at massheadstart.org and maaeyc.org

Governor Healey signed the proclamation designating this week as #WeekOfTheYoungChild in Massachusetts. At EEC, we are proud to join the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAAEYC) and thousands of partners across the state to celebrate young children and the dedication of our educators and early childhood professionals. This week also raises awareness for the need of continued investment in equitable and high-quality early education and care for all children and families in the Commonwealth. Learn more about the week's events here: https://ow.ly/ARgz50Vw1nK

EEC was proud to participate in the Massachusetts Early Childhood Policy Research Summit this week at Wellesley College to share the agency's research agenda and an overview of the important data and research infrastructure-building work that EEC is focused on to help inform policy decisions and improve programs and services. We were energized to be with others in the community to find ways to collaborate using data, design and research. Learn more about EEC's data dashboards at https://ow.ly/aw3c50VunUr and research agenda at https://ow.ly/g16o50VunUq

I firmly believe that we are all better when we do things together. Yesterday, at the Massachusetts Early Childhood Policy Research Summit, I realized that there are so many nerds who also believe this and are fired up, ready, and excited to collaborate with each other and with the advocates, policymakers, direct service providers, business leaders, and funders who also want to ensure that the Commonwealth is the best place for very young people to grow, learn, and thrive. Thank you to the 120+ participants; to the nearly 30 poster presenters; to our panelists from Strategies for Children, MA Department of Early Education and Care, + the E2C Data Hub; to Leader Alice Peisch for her opening remarks and call to action; and of course to Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College for being our gracious hosts. We made the Summit happen, together. Thank you all for showing up full force, for all that we accomplished in one day, and for your commitment to doing more together this summer and beyond. Special shout out to Wendy Robeson and Kyle DeMeo Cook, who volunteered their time, energy, and effort to make sure this Summit was an intentionally great experience for all. Good things are never accomplished alone, and I am forever grateful to spend my time making cool things with the both of you.

On April 17 at 6 p.m., join our Behavioral Health team for a discussion of behavioral health resources and supports, including the Early Childhood Mental Health Grant, Pyramid Model Supports, upcoming training opportunities and more. Register here: https://ow.ly/iMYO50VrOPG (This session will be held in English, Spanish and Portuguese)

Yesterday at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Commissioner Amy Kershaw joined EOE Secretary Tutwiler, DESE Commissioner Johnston, and DHE Commissioner Ortega, to testify before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means on the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s FY26 budget proposal. The Governor’s proposal includes meaningful investments in EEC and the state’s #EarlyEducationAndCare field that will support continued progress towards a transformed and modern system for children, families, programs, and educators. See the Commissioner's full testimony here: https://ow.ly/Kv3P50Voo13 Massachusetts Executive Office of Education Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Massachusetts Department of Higher Education