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Policy Pulse #3
In exciting news, the Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget has been passed by the State Legislature and is on its way to Governor Maura Healey's desk for signature. There's a lot to celebrate in this year's state budget, as it includes landmark policy and funding for early education and care. In this issue of Neighborhood Villages’ Policy Pulse, we dive further into the FY25 state budget, share important updates from the Commonwealth’s Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), and provide more details on how you can provide input to Governor Healey’s Interagency Taskforce on Early Education and Child Care. Let’s dive in!
Celebrating Momentous Child Care Policy Reforms in the FY25 State Budget
The policy provisions in the FY25 budget create a framework that will make child care more affordable for more families, improve compensation for educators, and provide the child care field with more stability.
Early Education and Care July Policy Updates
Check out the latest Early Education and Care policy updates for the month of July.
Apprenticeships Offer a Promising Solution to our Child Care Workforce Shortage
The early education and child care sector is facing a significant workforce shortage, with the child care field still down 40,000 workers nationally since before the pandemic and alarmingly high turnover rates. Nationally, over 100,000 early educators have left the field since the pandemic with job levels for the child care sector still significantly below pre-pandemic levels.
Policy Pulse #2
Welcome to issue two of Neighborhood Villages’ Policy Pulse. In this issue we dive into the most recent Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Board meeting, share more details on what’s on the table in this year’s Massachusetts state budget, and share more about Governor Maura Healey’s Interagency Early Education and Care Task Force.
RECAP of the June EEC Board Meeting: The Plan for C3 Grants and Updates on Reform of Residential Regulations
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.
One Educator’s Journey From Child Care Provider to College Graduate
Bortolotto’s journey from a family child care provider to a college graduate is a testament to the power of education and the importance of having support systems in place to achieve professional growth.
Introducing: The Policy Pulse
We are excited to introduce Neighborhood Villages’ first Policy Pulse - a guide to all things early education and care. In each issue, 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.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, Recognizing the Need For Behavioral Health Supports For Our Youngest Children
May marks the 75th annual Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Neighborhood Villages, we are using it as an opportunity to advocate for more support for children’s behavioral health needs and to provide an update on our work to address this critical issue.
Launching Our New Play-Based Toddler Curriculum, Co-Created with Educators
At Neighborhood Villages, we are committed to addressing inequity in the early childhood education field—and we know that begins with focusing on the needs of our youngest learners and their dedicated educators.
We Must Address the Child Care Crisis to Advance Racial Justice and Equity
Our nation’s broken child care system is one of the greatest drivers of racial inequality. It is a system based on unjustly free or low wage labor, built on the backs of women and predominantly women of color.
RECAP of the April EEC Board Meeting: Executive Order 625 and Workforce Development
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.
RECAP of the March EEC Board Meeting: Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) and Child Care Financial Assistance Programs
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.
RECAP of the February EEC Board Meeting: Governor’s Budget and the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative
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.
Breaking down the costs of high-quality early education in Massachusetts
Our new report, High-Quality Early Childhood Education: Opening the Books on its True Costs, unpacks what goes into offering high-quality early learning — from teacher wages, to core operating expenses, to wraparound services for families.
Black History Month Reflections on Child Care and Education
During Black History Month, we celebrate the achievements of the Black women and men that came before us. However, we can’t properly appreciate the weight of those triumphs without acknowledging the exploitation and marginalization of Black people that has served as a backdrop in our country’s history.
RECAP of the January EEC Board Meeting: Consolidated Reimbursement Rates and Contract Procurement
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.
Keys to selecting great children’s literature for the ECE classroom
Neighborhood Villages’s Toddler Curriculum is committed to the principles of developmentally appropriate practice, anti-bias education and social-emotional learning. One of the keys to bringing these important values together is thoughtful and intentional curation of children’s books for the toddler classroom.
What is anti-bias education?
Dedicated educators work towards a more equitable future by practicing anti-bias education daily. By intentionally incorporating social-emotional skills into the curriculum, they provide students with a thoughtful and personalized education that recognizes and celebrates their unique identities.