Massachusetts wants to lead the way in delivering high quality early education and childcare. And Governor Maura Healey took a big step when she signed Executive Order 625 to establish the Interagency Early Education and Child Care Task Force last year.
The Task Force is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's "Gateway to Pre-K" agenda to help make early education and childcare more accessible and affordable to families in the Commonwealth. It consists of leaders representing each state government office.
Over the past year, these leaders have "hit the ground learning," according to the agency's Year 1 Report published in March 2025.
Read on to learn about the Task Force and how it's using the ideas and feedback from parents, guardians, teachers, and others to enhance early education and childcare in Worcester and other Massachusetts communities.
'Sustainable Change Is a Process, Not an Event'
Over the past year, Task Force members looked at what other states and countries are doing in terms of early education and childcare. They also conducted 14 listening sessions between July 16 and August 7, 2024.
More than 750 people attended the listening sessions to share their ideas and feedback about early education and childcare. Eight themes emerged during these sessions:
1. Early Education and Childcare Solutions from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Are Not Enough.
Expanding and deepening EEC's early education and childcare solutions across departments and stakeholders could have long-lasting benefits for families across the Commonwealth.
2. Early Education and Childcare Is Expensive.
Many families struggle to cover the costs of early education and childcare programs.
3. Families Often Struggle to Access High Quality Early Education and Care Programs.
In addition to affordability, many families cannot access the early education and childcare programs they need to help their children grow and thrive.
Early education and childcare seats are often limited, and some programs have waitlists of a year or longer.
Many families told Task Force members that they have to travel a long distance for early education and care programs or have to settle for "less than ideal" options, according to the report.
4. Care Providers Are Spending Too Much.
High operating costs make it difficult for care providers to run sustainable businesses and attract top talent.
Early education and care is labor-intensive. Families bring their children to a program, which faces substantial costs for staffing, materials, insurance, compliance, and other operating expenses that add up quickly.
In Massachusetts, childcare reimbursement rates for state childcare financial assistance have increased over the past few years. However, they still do not cover the cost of high quality care, the report stated. Many care providers subsidize this cost by sacrificing teacher compensation or raising tuition fees.
Meanwhile, care providers "find it hard to pay living wages and offer competitive benefits," the report indicated. This can impact the quality of care, force them to deal with staffing shortages, and put them at risk of closure.
5. The Public Places a High Value on Early Education and Childcare.
The public's appreciation and respect for early educators and the contributions they make to the success of young learners could create opportunities to bolster early education and childcare initiatives and launch new ones.
6. It Is Essential to Expand Universal Access to Preschool.
A mixed delivery model could be used to provide universal access to preschool and ensure that there is true equity among families that want to take advantage of it.
7. Administrative Burdens Plague Many Families and Care Providers.
Modern systems and improved communications between families and early education providers could reduce the administrative burdens across the board.
8. Mental and Behavioral Health Support Is Critical.
Limited mental and behavioral health support is available to children, parents, and care providers.
"As we think about the resources that are available … we have to make sure that early education and childcare programs have access to them," EEC Commissioner Amy Kershaw said.
'We Are Leading with Urgency'
The Task Force looks poised to build on the ideas and feedback it has collected from community members to date.
Moving forward, Task Force members envision that families will be "able to access the early education and care options that meet their needs, inclusive of hours, location, and program characteristics," they wrote in the group's Year 1 Report.
How? Some ideas include:
- Support the Gateway to Pre-K agenda to further expand access to early education and childcare programs
- Use capital grants for center-based and family childcare programs
- Foster sustainable business conditions for all types of early education and childcare programs, with minimal barriers to entry
"If we want to be competitive … a strong education system is going to be really important," Kershaw said. "It's going to take more than just the Department of Early Education and Care."
'We Look Forward to Tackling More Work That Is Ahead'
In year two, the Task Force will start implementing immediate-term recommendations. At the same time, Task Force members will continue to collaborate with one another to drive transformational change in early education and childcare.
"What the Year 1 Report demonstrates so clearly is that the Task Force is listening and they get it," says Kim Davenport, CEO of Edward Street. "Each agency is putting children, families and early educators on their agenda. They are all-in to working on new solutions to lowering or removing barriers and innovating together to find improved ways of working and supporting the field."
The Healey-Driscoll Administration plans to build on its investment in EEC. This is reflected in Governor Healey's recently released Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which maintains and expands on the Gateway to Pre-k agenda.
Learn More About the Massachusetts Interagency Early Education and Child Care Task Force
Read the Year 1 Report for full details about the Task Force's achievements in its first year and its 29 cross-secretariat recommendations.
Join The 9:30 Call from Strategies for Children to stay informed about the Task Force and other topics that impact early education and childcare providers and the children and families they serve.
Edward Street looks forward to continued collaboration with Task Force agencies and leaders to create a system that works for all. We can do this!
Read our blog and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for Task Force updates and information about early childhood programs and initiatives in Massachusetts.