[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6133038,"mediaKeyId","5705927-8b754ba8ce2254fda4c0af5ed470d486","parentId",5705927,"title","Speakers Urge Mixed‑Delivery, Facility Funding and Inclusion in Preschool Expansion Plans","audioSeconds",774,"startMs",3352000,"endMs",4126000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5705927-8b754ba8ce2254fda4c0af5ed470d486&start=3352&end=4126","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5705927-8b754ba8ce2254fda4c0af5ed470d486/thumbnail_3352000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6133038/Massachusetts/Speakers-Urge-MixedDelivery-Facility-Funding-and-Inclusion-in-Preschool-Expansion-Plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6133038-0efa939f9074591744c553b955c7e323/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007805&Signature=IKh9tDikhKy8SaCt7xFcm-KKpLCkR2O64q5GM2M6eloi0VC0RGFpAhqviIb2t8W8o7949jvYqH3qIfynXh038m-NrqPHchN3onzE-ZuQ2SyCbLJL5Y1NoUfrDTyIpPCx4J9r2xtWVluSLmCJkDcYrYAU1dxgQz-F7jqLtarmked3dQqnlNv-A9crtg-9tkeEAwEbgVNoDy9Y2ZmWcMnk4Hk4J3RthDonMlZNsJt3WZoRWLinK-Y7rXRaLFgJGcelB78Ojl5LN2S29V0OqjHyMEGMQUejz~szx4mTlnjLwup38AeILtAELe5yWQdMN492UxpkYOI8wxKWO3ZDY3ZuHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-09-02T00:00:00Z","article","Advocates and school leaders told the Joint Committee on Education that expanding public preschool requires facility funding, mixed‑delivery planning and explicit attention to special‑education alignment.

Lisa Van Till, testifying on behalf of Lowell, said space constraints are “a major factor” in the city’s ability to expand preschool and that the district is conducting a space audit and hopes to pilot expansion in fiscal 2027. She told the committee that local data show a sizable waiting list for vouchers and that districts need funding to make school facilities suitable for additional preschool seats.

Elsa Jacobson, director of state government relations for the Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC), urged the committee to adopt a mixed‑delivery model in statewide pre‑K expansion bills such as H687/S339 and related proposals. “If public preschools were offered solely through the public schools and community‑based providers lose 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds to this program, they may struggle to keep classrooms open,” Jacobson said, arguing that community providers rely on preschool tuition to subsidize infant and toddler care and that a mixed model preserves the broader early‑care system.

Several witnesses highlighted the need for parity in teacher qualifications, salaries and benefits across public and community settings, and for stronger alignment between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) on staff‑to‑child ratios and services for children with individualized education programs (IEPs). Jenny Dudley, a special‑education consultant, urged the committee to consider regional models so smaller districts could pool resources to offer inclusive pre‑K that serves children with disabilities and reduces inequities driven by ZIP‑code funding.

The Early Care and Education Consortium also supported H523, a commission bill to study models for delivering universal pre‑K, saying a commission should evaluate Head Start, public school, EEC‑licensed and private providers. Committee members asked witnesses to submit written testimony with more budget details; several speakers said they had already filed written testimony. No committee votes on the preschool bills were recorded at the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Education - 9-2-2025","oneSentenceSummary","School and provider representatives urged the committee to support mixed‑delivery prekindergarten expansion, fund facility improvements, align staff qualifications and ensure equity for children with disabilities in bills including H707, H687/S339 and related proposals.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"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},6133043,"Advocates Tell Committee to Ban Suspensions for Pre-K Through Third Grade to Keep Children in Class",1200,4130000,5330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5705927-8b754ba8ce2254fda4c0af5ed470d486&start=4130&end=5330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5705927-8b754ba8ce2254fda4c0af5ed470d486/thumbnail_4130000.jpg","/articles/6133043/Massachusetts/Advocates-Tell-Committee-to-Ban-Suspensions-for-Pre-K-Through-Third-Grade-to-Keep-Children-in-Class","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6133043-faedcaa434d486c95dce7e84940ee7a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007805&Signature=dg7zezWud1h5VfzedrCrj6Y1I6724blEXqnohKagYEor~DOYsgMZf4cuqROCmrnf9NqKTUpHpYOzJF7L3tL36moCJIayRox0cFsPoXanSeyGJl~ZGxJvb3F3IH56T2nAYnMzJ~LxEXQ4ehgZcRmsZ-~Y2PsantWh~xr4R98Vv-5SdYj-6v~1mq7iTvDVmnMzEM5NVpUN3zS6t5eOZDXSn7hMRgNezHJwnBFCbypNM-kkPyCONANmhcA9X6u3eVd-t~flKlEjsvOEYeJE8uOBr6CsOcEI7rucS4NwYuUxUeIK8BrbiHNZ9hdPRgrH33Qs-6hMjA3jqsjVhiCv3mMkEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supporters of H541/S373 told the Joint Committee on Education that suspending or expelling very young learners removes critical instructional time and disproportionately harms students of color, low‑income children and students with disabilities.

\"When kids at this age act out many times, it is not out of malice or ill intent. It is because they have unmet needs, trauma, or developmental delays,\" said a representative of the American Federation of Teachers, Massachusetts, urging the committee to keep youngest learners in class. Elizabeth McIntyre, an attorney with the Ed Law Project of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, described a first‑grade boy who had been repeatedly suspended until he was placed in a specialized program; after placement he “excelled” and “started learning how to read.” McIntyre said the boy’s grandmother lost work when she repeatedly left early to retrieve him.

Nadia Romanazi of Mass Appleseed called the bill “a critical step” to disrupt what she called a preschool‑to‑prison pipeline, citing research that early exclusions are linked to worse long‑term outcomes. Leon Smith of Citizens for Juvenile Justice told the committee that, based on the most recent Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) data the group had reviewed (school year 2022‑23), pre‑K through third grade students lost nearly 3,000 days of instruction to exclusionary discipline and that the number of lost days rises markedly between pre‑K and third grade.

Supporters asked the committee to limit the ban to routine suspensions under chapter 71 and to preserve school authority to address serious, expellable conduct. \"The end of third grade is arguably the most critical point in the child's education,\" Smith said, noting research that students not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to drop out and face other negative outcomes.

Witnesses urged alternatives to exclusionary discipline such as restorative practices, strengthened social‑emotional supports and early special‑education identification. Several witnesses pointed to Boston Public Schools as an example: Boston has restricted suspensions for its youngest learners and advocates said that precedent shows districts can manage behavior without routinely removing children from classrooms.

Committee members asked for additional data showing which districts have the highest rates of early exclusion and for breakdowns by race and gender; advocates offered to provide written data. No committee vote on H541/S373 was taken at the hearing.","Attorneys, child advocates and juvenile-justice groups urged the Joint Committee on Education to back H541/S373, a bill that would prohibit suspensions and expulsions for students in pre-kindergarten through grade three, citing disproportionate impacts and research linking early exclusion to long-term harm.",{"_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},6133047,"Committee Hears Calls to Raise Pay, Expand Access for Family, Friend and Neighbor Childcare",2984,362000,3346000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5705927-8b754ba8ce2254fda4c0af5ed470d486&start=362&end=3346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5705927-8b754ba8ce2254fda4c0af5ed470d486/thumbnail_362000.jpg","/articles/6133047/Massachusetts/Committee-Hears-Calls-to-Raise-Pay-Expand-Access-for-Family-Friend-and-Neighbor-Childcare","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6133047-775e6c344e46f2464601b5cc510712e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007805&Signature=HowL~B9ceTaXQP2TG9fYHktJ0qZRakbucJQqkZ3PBPsiwyWZJCVGx0LnGAU7hoELNlGMs1CgQ4ug8qnQIfswOwxJVcba1b5zaQ-t7Ia3Av~DTVOKWgCIw68YnylDrn-rsa2CfRMZhDGHuWCLzxCk-W6RGNtPFQKfAiNcKF2S39~SYLv73XjFEJAJ9U9yio140YhqpX31xfP0gelMGvfShUpM6iKR3jqNnerzFacJ71eqso9H~RfhqmXfD0bkAV1k5bvOqNs~221mHr8idOL0gq~I25wLx0tGpx8JLvioZOASD~p72~-tOdpGgKxg26Z59pR3SLiZNz-kSfzpu2iqpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Chair Kenneth Gordon and Senate Co-chair Jason Lewis presided over a joint education committee hearing at the State House where dozens of caregivers, grandparents and union representatives urged lawmakers to back H542/S341, legislation to expand access to family, friend and neighbor (FFN) childcare. Witnesses said the bills would raise pay for FFN providers, make state childcare vouchers more flexible across formal and informal care, and build outreach and training supports for largely invisible home-based providers.

The bill “would strengthen state support for FFN providers by guaranteeing they earn at least the state minimum wage,” said Alejandra Dehaev, family childcare coordinator with Local 509, arguing that improving payment and flexibility would “provide a much needed boost for their families.” Lindsey Kenny, legislative director for the Mass AFL-CIO, told the committee that fewer than 1 percent of state childcare subsidy dollars go to FFN providers and that the current maximum daily voucher rate is “just $24 a day per child.” “Many of these workers are paid below the minimum wage,” Kenny said, adding that some are paid “just $5 an hour.”

The proposal would ensure FFN providers who enroll in the voucher system receive at least the state minimum wage, allow families to use the full value of a day’s voucher flexibly across both licensed centers and FFN care, and establish an FFN advisory council to promote best practices. Testifying on behalf of Brockton-based caregivers, Daniela Fuentes and Susana Moraes described FFN care as the only practical option for many families who work nonstandard hours or lack access to center-based seats. “For many families, FFN is the only option,” Fuentes said, adding that the care is often “invisible” and provided by immigrants and relatives.

Multiple grassroots witnesses described caregiving patterns in Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury and Brockton and said current payments do not cover the labor required. Betty McGuire of the New England Community Project said the present subsidy range—she cited “$10 to $24 a day”—is far short of a living wage. Yolanda Miranda said she provided full‑time care for a grandchild for a year but received no pay and estimated caregivers often provide 10‑hour days bridging early and late work shifts.

Committee members asked practical questions about enrollment and barriers. Witnesses and coalition representatives noted the state permits FFN providers to register for vouchers but that the registration process includes background checks, fingerprinting, a criminal-record check with emphasis on sex‑offense screening, possible EEC visits, and some health-and-safety training such as CPR. Alejandra Dehaev said non‑relative FFN care must typically take place in the child’s home. Witnesses acknowledged fingerprinting can deter immigrant caregivers and said the coalition is discussing ways to reduce barriers.

Witnesses also described recent work with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Coalition representatives said they have participated in EEC focus groups and reviewed a draft legislative report; they expect the department’s formal recommendations to be published in the fall. The coalition provided a rough fiscal estimate: current annual voucher spending on FFN care is about $1.8 million; if existing FFN providers currently in the system were paid at the minimum wage the cost would rise to roughly $6 million annually, which coalition witnesses described as “well under 1 percent” of the EEC budget. They acknowledged that induced demand (additional families entering the system if rates rise) was not yet modeled.

Testimony closed after an extended public comment period; committee members did not take a formal vote on H542/S341 during the hearing. Advocates asked the committee to report the bill favorably so the legislature could move to implement the wage and flexibility changes they described.","Witnesses, many caregivers and community organizers, urged the Joint Committee on Education to support H542/S341 to raise payments to family, friend and neighbor (FFN) childcare providers to at least minimum wage, fix voucher flexibility and create supports and outreach for informal providers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Speakers Urge Mixed‑Delivery, Facility Funding and Inclusion in Preschool Expansion Plans

Advocates Tell Committee to Ban Suspensions for Pre-K Through Third Grade to Keep Children in Class

Committee Hears Calls to Raise Pay, Expand Access for Family, Friend and Neighbor Childcare