[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6383451,"mediaKeyId","2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9","parentId",2124279,"title","Framingham coordinator urges continued support for CFCE and Parent Child Plus programs","audioSeconds",224,"startMs",1316000,"endMs",1540000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9&start=1316&end=1540","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9/thumbnail_1316000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6383451/Massachusetts/Framingham-coordinator-urges-continued-support-for-CFCE-and-Parent-Child-Plus-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383451-fa5bb7b095edd54a2949bc989b6f397d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166103&Signature=CKWTK1rOevZ6wl1zm9qSfXN1Y2FBWn3f3G09QVALkXiZm477O~Ryxqj6KJVxYphmSiA90HGHQMYXPP6q51qFD-KS7gi77ZYU3t2Fezr-pWDklJwZ3KSHtArRslZzRvQKCXG75Wu~niAe4QynIeG6ZZB5Gei6g3tkAH7IFCta6~fAJ5VdUJYh~BNJ3LIivYlXqbOvRBZczEjSbkfYefU-5DPquaxNr8LBR3-SqqNGwYkB-iaDSv7kD04jeLAFkHZ7fvSHrC-9UYbOebZYHlDWiGOpkRIyL2~~-HyobyOt4fkqEsKybiUiwYg8b4Jug-iL07OU46ZtW6hYSvrjPqxIhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Department of Early Education and Care","date","2025-01-15T00:00:00Z","article","Jane Cohen, coordinator for the Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham and representative of the grant-funded Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) programs and Parent Child Plus, addressed the board during public comment.

Cohen said her site is led by the Framingham Public Schools and described 15 years as CFCE coordinator and more than 40 years in social work and early education. She said CFCE and Parent Child Plus target families with children up to age 6 and help address barriers including family isolation, language access, limited knowledge of pathways to services such as early intervention and special education, health care, housing and food.

Cohen summarized services provided by CFCE and Parent Child Plus: play, learn and grow groups that combine parent-child activities and school-readiness supports; an ages-and-stages screening tool to help parents understand development; resource guides and navigation; leadership councils to amplify early-childhood voices across sectors; and partnerships with local institutions such as the Framingham Public Library. She left a packet of information and family testimonies with the board.

Ending

The board acknowledged receipt of written public comment distributed prior to the meeting; no board action followed the comment.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Early Education and Care - January 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A public commenter representing Framingham's Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) and Parent Child Plus programs described the services they provide to families, including home visiting, early literacy and resource navigation, and left a packet of family testimonies for the board.","taxTitle","Department of Early Education and Care, Executive , Massachusetts","taxId",24967,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6383457,"EEC and Office of the Child Advocate launch trauma-responsive training initiative and expand behavioral health supports",3496,3863000,7359000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9&start=3863&end=7359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9/thumbnail_3863000.jpg","/articles/6383457/Massachusetts/EEC-and-Office-of-the-Child-Advocate-launch-trauma-responsive-training-initiative-and-expand-behavioral-health-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383457-1027db3790ee2ff9973059c3e110280d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166103&Signature=jVi8XMVH5LbteJ57lylsosc38T27H-M31sY0lHjYH0jtu3exynF8i0siZVJFPfRCwdZey~QM99omsserolUeJXjhW65oLzYHRlIobxafCDBFbbdc0z7sGciystb2YKUQSLuXqp~mc3CJE9D95TVoUhML~xvhiQpVCQ0--cUM96U5Ti-iXU4d3o9GzKCx0nJZDnuH6IUYCnn8J9AFMhA0nrrHTiag6GKJB9tbzRdokvAh-17qs7PbK9WHVkind5rTSYS42cyvGn0xkA-z2EqcRNvnluy60JGCnVOL8hpqa-smwAjPv5tc2-FHH9LShdPgYbwm2YK2nsNzby6pujpbeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Early Education and Care heard a multi-part briefing on mental and behavioral health initiatives for young children, educators and programs across the Commonwealth. Commissioner and EEC staff framed behavioral health supports as a top priority and described staff additions, expanded grants and a new partnership with the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to deliver trauma-responsive training and technical assistance.

EEC described a growing in-house behavioral-health team deployed regionally to provide direct support to programs, and an expanded Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation grant network that supplies classroom observation, individualized assessment, coaching and family advocacy. Amy Smith Seoli (EEC behavioral-health lead) said consultants also embed family-support and behavioral-support specialists to help teachers implement strategies in real time.

Maria Mossaidis, director of the Office of the Child Advocate, and Audrey Smolkin of the Center on Child Well-Being and Trauma described a multi-level training initiative called STREET (Strategic Trauma Responsive Early Education Training). The initiative will deploy an online (LMS) grounding course for providers, a full-day training for EEC field staff and a deeper train-the-trainer series to create regional champions who can deliver follow-up community-of-practice sessions in each region. Materials will be translated into Spanish and other languages; sessions will emphasize trauma-responsive practice, racial equity and culturally affirmative approaches.

EEC said the STREET LMS modules were scheduled to go live in the month following the board meeting, with regional staff training beginning immediately and a first cohort of champion trainers completing coursework in the spring. The department also flagged development of an \"inclusion and support toolkit\" designed to reduce exclusionary discipline and provide quick, practical resources for busy classroom and family-child-care settings.

Board members commended the work and emphasized the need to scale supports, link agency efforts across sectors and ensure programs know these resources exist. Staff said many initiatives are funded through federal Preschool Development Grant (PDG) resources and other appropriations; they also cited ongoing collaboration with the Department of Mental Health, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Public Health.

Ending

EEC said the work will continue to expand in 2025, with a focus on building regional capacity, exploring crisis-response options, increasing grantee capacity and better integrating supports across state agencies.","EEC briefed the board on expanded early childhood behavioral-health staffing, its consultation grant network, and a new interagency trauma-responsive training called STREET (Strategic Trauma Responsive Early Education Training) developed with the Office of the Child Advocate and partner organizations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6383462,"Board approves plan to submit $7.5M loan-repayment program to Department of Higher Education for administration",498,2546000,3044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9&start=2546&end=3044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9/thumbnail_2546000.jpg","/articles/6383462/Massachusetts/Board-approves-plan-to-submit-75M-loan-repayment-program-to-Department-of-Higher-Education-for-administration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383462-13a05f6ba079162c4e77e61187468c46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166103&Signature=dpzTNX-Qi-jRDpo-EHj52oFiLJhjA5tikBsp63wZfOnc54W2js0v2j18VfRAT5~e0soNfFNZEv1GuxWI3T97WkQHz~loZUnlsS-xucKA~z7zUr2ZD-c0LcBMAnv~S8B2MU9KasNlH~IpwvLTOULG4a131hhgBEN60RZLFOLUNE4FGsJ0N78jaNff9UVMft5aCV1ykxEdt0HxY1PJyWRSxQVjfq0l-R8rOtStbZawWt7tpQ6PjsyQWbFfD5~4J-RuL6VCabz8v510P2eorWJCLMLGp9bB8NoEpSvBRNqrrx4fQAanzjAnYfCccYoOcbeovjwxZ3QvnQAQ2yLH1kksvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Early Education and Care voted to authorize the department to submit its proposal for an Early Childhood Educator Student Loan Repayment Program to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) for administration.

Commissioner and staff described that the FY25 enacted budget provided $15 million for early education workforce supports; the department has allocated $7.5 million for scholarships and $7.5 million for the loan-repayment program. Jocelyn Bowne and Ellen Grandin summarized program design and eligibility criteria developed in partnership with DHE.

Staff said the program will give priority to educators who have worked at least five years in the early education field and who serve families with higher needs or work in regions with limited supply. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens (per budget language), employed full time in an EEC-licensed or funded program and commit to at least one year of continued employment in an eligible program after receiving an award. Awards will be paid directly to lenders and can be applied annually until funds are exhausted; staff described award amounts as \"up to $75'$100 per year\" in the presentation materials.

Ellen Grandin said the Department of Higher Education will administer the program after the board refers the proposal to DHE; DHE will estimate administration costs and finalize rollout details. The board moved and seconded a motion authorizing submission of the proposal to DHE \"subject to revision by the commissioner.\" The motion passed on a voice vote; those present answered \"aye\" and there were no recorded abstentions.

Staff said funds will be retroactive to July 1, 2024, and that applications and communication to the field will follow DHE approval and administrative planning.

Ending

The board directed staff to work with DHE on administration, application development and outreach to educators once DHE approves the plan.","The board agreed to submit a student loan repayment program for early childhood educators to the Department of Higher Education; the $7.5 million program gives priority to educators with at least five years of service and requires a one-year post-award work commitment in EEC-licensed or -funded programs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6383465,"Board approves FY25 increase to childcare financial assistance reimbursement rates",1041,1571000,2612000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9&start=1571&end=2612","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124279-71d420116b1fd3877b5f6820a0297df9/thumbnail_1571000.jpg","/articles/6383465/Massachusetts/Board-approves-FY25-increase-to-childcare-financial-assistance-reimbursement-rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383465-e690d7a73d96c2e54175340109971f68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166103&Signature=R9~Oiys30fnXLOf4EwWV6HUTc~GrxIZ87cHontMdTFoeoba-sC~jPvw-Ee-uBQ2LafVyCuKoJS3VjvOSQXQhzdcx745SrQfYZjAktuVBLbc4CY6hy3CQdnC0PGFHh7UBjPV51HuwKn0IuDGfYpLzOH3FByWfwXZ225CNrnMBhM9oa6VIn0KZJ1vLSmNm6d4GPn~~ZCdfxPCKDxdKwqJFnO3nqNWiA1mxcwSIJG4oRshhKm~bGu0~vjfRIYNhGREdi770aKXP6myLFlnv8uONcTRXkklPVy4Wz-0~x-Hwd9FTz6uW3HTdSRlUlsF4gX5-U757wBFly7ilhRgrPMVkWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Early Education and Care voted to approve the Department of Early Education and Care's Option 1 proposal for fiscal 2025 reimbursement rate increases for programs that accept state childcare financial assistance (CCFA).

The board approved a recommendation described by staff as a targeted approach that dedicates more funding to rates that are farthest from a cost-of-care benchmark while also providing increases across all program types and regions. Amy Checkaway, EEC senior staff, told the board that the agency's analysis showed per-child costs rose between 12% and 26% over the prior two years depending on age group, program type and region. She said the department aims to use a cost-based methodology to inform rates and to prioritize places and program types furthest from the estimated cost of care.

The board acted on line-item and supplemental budget language, and the motion approved the department's recommended Option 1. Board members then completed a roll-call vote; all members present voted yes. Secretary Toutweiler and the chair also voted in the affirmative, and the motion passed.

EEC staff said the FY25 package is funded out of an appropriation of $22,500,000 for rate increases; staff estimated the cost of the Option 1 proposal at about $22.2 million after accounting for the proposed adjustments and noted a small reserve to cover a retroactive payment. The proposal also included a retroactive 50-cent-per-day increase to an add-on rate for the period July'September 2024.

Staff described improvements made last year, when the board used the first formal cost-of-care analysis to inform rates: consolidation of some geographic rate tiers, notable across-the-board increases and targeted increases for the lowest-paid rates. Amy Checkaway said last year's changes increased center-based rates to about 81% of the then-estimated cost of care and raised the lowest rates from 56% to 72% of cost-of-care using 2022 data.

Board members and staff emphasized that rates are only one factor affecting program participation and stability. Amy Checkaway told the board EEC data show program participation in the CCFA system increased to about 68% from roughly 63% in March. She said the department will continue to refine cost models with its research partner, AIR, and expects an executive summary of the cost research this spring.

The vote and staff presentation concluded the agenda item; commissioners and board members thanked the staff and the governor and legislature for funding the increases.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: \"That the Board of Early Education and Care hereby approves the department's recommendation Option 1 as presented regarding the FY25 rate increase for providers of subsidized early education and care.\" Moved and seconded on the record; motion adopted.
- Roll-call vote (recorded on the transcript): Jamila Lee ' yes; Dr. Kim Lucas ' yes; Georgia Tannasoff ' yes; Jen James Price ' yes; Carolyn Kane ' yes; Maria Mueller ' yes; Nikki Ruiz ' yes; Dr. Linda Sager ' yes; Secretary Toutweiler ' yes; Chair ' yes. Outcome: approved.

Ending

EEC staff said the department will continue to refine cost assumptions, monitor program participation, and provide a more detailed cost-research executive summary this spring.","The Board of Early Education and Care voted to adopt the department's recommended Option 1 for FY25 childcare financial assistance (CCFA) reimbursement rate increases, a package aimed at moving rates closer to the cost of care and directing additional funds to the rates farthest below cost.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Framingham coordinator urges continued support for CFCE and Parent Child Plus programs

EEC and Office of the Child Advocate launch trauma-responsive training initiative and expand behavioral health supports

Board approves plan to submit $7.5M loan-repayment program to Department of Higher Education for administration

Board approves FY25 increase to childcare financial assistance reimbursement rates