Neighborhood Villages Applauds Massachusetts Legislature for Critical Investment in Early Education and Care in FY23 Budget

Neighborhood Villages — a Boston-based nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector — today applauded the Massachusetts Legislature for prioritizing funding for early education and care in the FY23 budget. Lauren Kennedy, co-president of Neighborhood Villages, issued the following statement: 

“Neighborhood Villages applauds the Massachusetts Legislature for its critical investment in the Commonwealth’s early education and care sector. The Conference Report put before the Legislature today marks what we hope will be an ongoing prioritization of early education and care for years to come.

“We particularly commend the inclusion of $250 million to extend the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Stabilization Grant Program — funding that we have long been advocating for and know is essential to keeping the early education and care sector afloat. Extension of the C3 Stabilization Grant Program, coupled with an investment in salary increases for early educators serving lower-income children, will be critical for retaining early educators and keeping classrooms open for children and families. Moreover, ensuring that state reimbursement for child care subsidies is now tied to enrollment of children, rather than attendance, marks an important change in policy, one that will help to strengthen and build the capacity of the early education and care sector.

“Additionally, we applaud the Legislature’s investment in supporting Career Pathways and workforce development programs for early educators, as well as its support for early childhood mental health services.

"We thank the Conference Committee and House and Senate leadership for its prioritization of access to early education and care in the final FY23 budget. Neighborhood Villages looks forward to continuing to work with the Legislature to identify additional opportunities to support and build the capacity of the early education and care sector in Massachusetts and to improve equitable access for families.”