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From the Desk of Neighborhood Villages
Neighborhood Villages’ Budget Bootcamp Recap: Empowering the Community to Advocate for Change
Have you ever wondered how the state decides to spend public money in your community?
At Neighborhood Villages, we set out to empower community members to learn more about this process and to advocate for the change they’d like to see.
Inter-Agency Task Force on Early Education and Child Care Releases Goals and Year 1 Report
In January of 2024 Governor Healey created an inter-agency task force on Early Education and Child Care to form a whole of government response to increase access to affordable, high quality child care. Read more about their goals here.
Early Ed Act reforms being implemented: Department of Early Education and Care is updating regulations for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program
In 2024, the Massachusetts legislature passed a suite of policy reforms through the FY2025 budget which advocates had been pushing for since 2020. Here are the proposed regulation changes and what they mean for families in practice.
New Program Brings Early Education to Kids Living in Shelters in Massachusetts
In 2024, Neighborhood Villages partnered with Amal Alliance, Horizons for Homeless Children, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration to launch Colori Express, an innovative mobile early learning initiative that provides developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed care to young children living in shelter and respite centers across Massachusetts.
Massachusetts’ 2025-2026 Legislative Session: What is being proposed for Early Education and Child Care?
The new Massachusetts’ legislative session began on January 1, 2025. While the legislative session in Massachusetts runs continuously for two years, all bills to be considered during the session must be filed in January. For this session of the state legislature, State Senators and Representatives submitted over 6500 bills.
Investing in Early Education and Child Care is key to improve the United States literacy and math scores
Last month the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released the 2024 4th and 8th grade math and reading scores. NAEP, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, is a congressionally mandated assessment given every two years to public school students in grades 4, 8, and 12.
RECAP of the February 2025 EEC Board Meeting: Vote on CCFA Regulations, C3 Program Updates, CCFA Caseloads, and New IT Portals
At Neighborhood Villages, we prioritize keeping up with the policy landscape in the early education and care field, both across the country and in Massachusetts. That includes tuning-in to the monthly meetings of the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care (“EEC Board”), to stay apprised of updates and to identify opportunities for how we can work with government and other stakeholders to improve our early education and care system.
Our 2025 Outlook: Expanding Access to High-Quality Early Education Through Practice and Policy
As we head into 2025 and an uncertain and unprecedented climate, Neighborhood Villages is as committed as ever to taking care of those who take care of young children.
Policy Pulse #8
In each issue of the Policy Pulse, you will find an overview of what’s happening with Massachusetts and national child care policy and information on what you can do to take action and join the movement for a transformed early education and care system. January brought a new federal administration, the start of the new state and federal legislative sessions, and the release of the Governor’s FY26 budget proposal.
Shifting the Conversation to Early Relational Health
At Neighborhood Villages, we believe that early childhood education programs have the potential to be powerful hubs for positive Early Relational Health (ERH).
RECAP of the January 2025 EEC Board Meeting: New Child Care Financial Assistance Rates, Introduction of the Early Educator Loan Repayment Program, and EEC’s Behavioral Health Initiatives
At Neighborhood Villages, we prioritize keeping up with the policy landscape in the early education and care field, both across the country and in Massachusetts. That includes tuning-in to the monthly meetings of the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care (“EEC Board”), to stay apprised of updates and to identify opportunities for how we can work with government and other stakeholders to improve our early education and care system.
Reflections On Our Lead Teacher Workforce Program
We heard firsthand from many wonderful educators who reflected on their experiences completing the Lead Teacher program with Neighborhood Villages’ support. Check out some of their stories, here!
Inside Learning Through Exploration: A Play-Based Toddler Learning Curriculum
In 2024, we proudly launched our free, play-based toddler learning curriculum, Learning Through Exploration, designed for educators, caregivers, and parents.
RECAP of the December 2024 EEC Board Meeting: Inter-Agency Early Education and Child Care Task Force and Options for Child Care Financial Assistance FY25 Reimbursement Rate Increases
At Neighborhood Villages, we prioritize keeping up with the policy landscape in the early education and care field, both across the country and in Massachusetts. That includes tuning-in to the monthly meetings of the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care (“EEC Board”), to stay apprised of updates and to identify opportunities for how we can work with government and other stakeholders to improve our early education and care system.
Neighborhood Villages Distributes Over 240,000 Diapers Across Massachusetts
Earlier this month, we partnered with Los Angeles-based non-profit Baby2Baby to distribute over 240,000 diapers across Massachusetts!
Policy Pulse #7
In this issue of the Policy Pulse we share recent electoral and legislative wins for early education and care and important updates from the most recent Department of Early Education and Care Board meeting.
RECAP of the November 2024 EEC Board Meeting: Budget Priorities, Literacy Launch, and Findings from Two Research Analyses on Early Childhood Education
At Neighborhood Villages, we prioritize keeping up with the policy landscape in the early education and care field, both across the country and in Massachusetts. That includes tuning-in to the monthly meetings of the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care (“EEC Board”), to stay apprised of updates and to identify opportunities for how we can work with government and other stakeholders to improve our early education and care system.
Policy Pulse #6
In this issue of the Policy Pulse we share updates on several key areas of early education and Care in Massachusetts: Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3), Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) and higher education opportunities for early educators. We also share several upcoming events and important information on registering to vote.