Charlene Arsenault -
Last fall, Worcester was awarded a grant from the Department of Early Education and Care to expand access to high quality preschool programs through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative. Edward Street and its partners, The Guild of St. Agnes, the YWCA of Central MA, and WPS have been collaborating to launch the program. On May 30th, Commissioner Amy Kershaw and EEC Board Chair, Paul Belsito, and members of EEC visited Worcester to talk with early educators, visit classrooms, and learn more about the work underway.
As Edward Street Board Member, Darlene Belliveau notes, the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative is transforming early education and care locally. “The CPPI grant is truly re-envisioning the early education and care field,” said Darlene Belliveau, director of Children’s Services at the YWCA Central Massachusetts, in the announcement. “It provides a high-quality mixed-delivery model, a strong foundation for early learning, and most importantly, support for families and educators.”