Early Childhood Focus

Bridging the Child Care Affordability Gap

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:30:31 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Cape Cod Times
By Susan Milton
HARWICH � Christy Foster of Eastham remembers when she had to take her younger child to her bookkeeping job with her. Luckily, she had a flexible boss. On other days, her in-laws handled day care duty, something they still do a couple days a week.

Budget Cuts Limit Child Care

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:33:29 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Republican
By Jim Kinney
EASTHAMPTON - Cuts in state funding are making it harder for low-income women to get their children into state-subsidized child care, according to a new report issued Tuesday by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

Activitsts: Affordable Child Care Loses After $4.4M Cut

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:09:24 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Allston/Brighton TAB
By Pat Tarantino
Allston, Mass. - Thousands of low-income and working families stand to lose affordable child care across the state due to a $4.4 million budget cut made by Governor Deval Patrick�s administration, according to a Boston-based antipoverty group.

Child Care Office Closing

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:02:40 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Berkshire Eagle
By Jennifer Huberdeau, New England Newspapers
NORTH ADAMS -- North County parents who receive state-subsidized child care will have to make the 45-minute drive to Pittsfield from now on to renew their vouchers -- instead of stopping by the Resources for Child Care satellite office on Main Street.

Canessa Named to Early Childhood Education Post

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:12:14 PST

NEW BEDFORD � Rep. Stephen R. Canessa, D-New Bedford, has been appointed by House Speaker Robert DeLeo to serve on the Early Education and Care Advisory Council. This body, made up of eight legislative appointments � including three from the House of Representatives � and members of 30 organizations dedicated to improving early education programs, is charged with providing feedback, input, and recommendations to the Department of Early Education and Care Commissioner Sherri Killins.

Child Care is Less Affordable After State Cuts Close Program

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:24:02 PST

Cuts to state aid for child care have left Island families and early childhood workers struggling to develop new ways to subsidize programs here.

High-quality Child Care Leads to Academic Success for Low-income Kids

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:15:03 PST

Chestnut Hill, Mass. (September 15, 2009) � For low income parents, finding high quality child care not only boosts the performance of their children in school, but actually combats the effects of poverty, according to a new study in the journal Child Development.

Dedham Schools Seek New Child Care Provider

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:19:13 PST

DEDHAM � The future of the popular Kids' Place Child Care Center remains in flux, but at least a few entities are exploring taking over the day care, Dedham school officials said yesterday.

Families Stuck, As Budget Woes Prompt Child Care Cuts

Wed, 13 May 2009 10:24:32 PST

QUINCY � Milagro Forte, a Quincy hairdresser, has used South Shore Day Care Services for 10 years, putting three children through programs such as preschool and summer camp with the help of a state subsidy for working families.

State to Get $23.9 Million for Low-Income Child Care

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:20:37 PST

BOSTON - The federal stimulus law will provide Massachusetts with $23.9 million for child care for low-income people and about $4 million for vaccines for poor children, Vice President Joseph R. Biden said on Thursday.

MARY L. REED: System Keeps Youngest Learners at Disadvantage

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:41:53 PST

QUINCY � Imagine, if you can, a pre-school teacher in a program that attempts to educate children from low-income families. Though this teacher desperately wants to advance her own education, and thus benefit the children under her care, her pay is as minimal as her opportunity to become a better teacher.

Lynners Stretching Dollars to Pay for Child Care

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:37:31 PST

LYNN -Keeping her child enrolled in Gregg House is a priority for Christine Brown and she juggles her other bills to ensure day care gets paid first.

State�s Cuts Could Leave Homeless Child-Care Programs in Lurch

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:42:12 PST

Advocates for homeless children are worried that the state�s budget crisis will soon cut off access to child care for homeless families.

The Next Priorities: School Buses and Universal Pre-k

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:39:07 PST

I sat in yesterday on Dr. Alonso's talk to the Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City. He told the students about three priorities on his mind for the 2009-2010 school year. One we've already reported on: an expansion of vocational education to better prepare students for the workforce and meet the high demand for such programs.

Early Education Pays Future Dividends for Massachusetts (Opinion)

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:24:33 PST

Eighty-five percent of brain development takes place by age 5 � but as a society, we are missing this critical window of opportunity because the vast majority of our education funding doesn�t begin until kindergarten. Studies have shown that high-quality early education has a lifetime impact on young learners. Low-income children who have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten are 40 percent less likely to need special education services or be held back a grade, 30 percent more likely to graduate from high school, and twice as likely to go to college.

North Andover Child-Care Center Closes Overnight; Hundreds of Families Affected

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:29:17 PST

NORTH ANDOVER � Three years after opening, Little Professionals day-care center on Route 114, near the Middleton line, closed permanently Wednesday night, putting 30 people out of work and leaving families scrambling to find day-care options for more than 100 children.

Learning, Early and Often

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:14:49 PST

SURROUNDED by smiling children, Governor Patrick signed a bill last month that cements the state's commitment to building a universal preschool program.

New Early Education Bill Lauded

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:24:23 PST

Gov. Deval Patrick Thursday officially signed into law An Act Relative to Early Education and Care, laying the groundwork for important advances in early childhood education.

Jehlen, Galluccio Back Universal Preschool Bill

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:07:44 PST

The Senate on Thursday reintroduced the Early Education and Care initiative including a universal pre-kindergarten program that was vetoed by former Governor Mitt Romney in 2006. The legislation seeks to improve the coordination, quality and accessibility of early education services and complete the transfer of duties of the former Office of Child Care Services to the Department of Early Education and Care.

Early Ed.: An Investment in the Massachusetts Workforce

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:37:11 PST

Ensuring that Massachusetts develops and retains a skilled, educated workforce is a concern for every business leader in the commonwealth. The recently released recommendations of Gov. Deval Patrick and his Job Readiness Task Force provide a reform-oriented vision for education in the 21st century that will help meet this need. With a strong emphasis on early education, the plan strategically focuses resources where they will generate the greatest return on investment for taxpayers, providing the double benefit of training tomorrow�s leaders while helping meet the needs of today�s parents.