The Healey-Driscoll administration has launched its Universal Pre-K Road Show!
It’s a “series of community visits across Massachusetts throughout the spring and summer to spotlight innovative preschool programs supported by the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) and celebrate communities expanding access to high-quality early education for children and families.”
CPPI is a “key component of the administration’s Gateway to Pre-K Agenda and focuses on expanding access to affordable, high-quality preschool across Massachusetts, with a particular focus on the state’s 26 Gateway Cities and rural communities.”
Amy Kershaw, commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), explains what’s behind the roadshow:
“These visits are about recognizing the incredible and innovative partnerships in our communities that are enabling increased access to preschool and learning directly from local leaders who are helping to make preschool more equitable and effective for all.”
The roadshow’s first stop was Somerville.
“Somerville,” Kershaw notes, “has been a leader in aligning preschool experiences with public education, and we’re excited to start here and take these stories across the state.”
To prepare for Kershaw’s visit, Somerville “used a backward design process through our early childhood steering committee, First Five,” Kathleen Bailer explains. She’s the director of Early Education in the Somerville Public Schools.
“We began by setting clear goals, celebrating our early education community, showcasing our strong cross-sector collaboration, and demonstrating the impact of flexible CPPI funding on local innovation. This structure allowed us to design an informative, grounded, and emotionally resonant visit.”
Bailer says the day was organized to reflect Somerville’s core values of equity, inclusion, and shared leadership. There was a presentation that offered a wide-angle view of local strengths and challenges. During a classroom visit, there was a focus on educator voices and practice. And at a roundtable discussion, directors spoke directly to Kershaw, sharing their stories. Promoting educator visibility was a priority, and so was creating a model for authentic, community-rooted engagement.
“Amy’s genuine interest in the lived experiences of directors reinforced the importance of their voice in shaping the future of early childhood education,” Bailer says. “Her presence boosted morale, elevated our work, and reminded us that what we’re building in Somerville matters—locally and statewide. We are grateful for her time, listening ear, and partnership.”
“Through the Somerville Partnership for Young Children, we’ve built something truly special together: a mixed-delivery system rooted in equity, collaboration, and innovation. Because of the strong partnerships across the community, Somerville children are entering kindergarten with a strong sense of belonging, with the social-emotional and academic foundations they need to succeed. The directors are shaping not just the first chapter of a child’s learning journey but setting the tone for all that comes next.”
Stay tuned: there will be more CPPI visits, and there will be more opportunities for communities to apply for CPPI grants in FY’26. To learn more, check out the CPPI website.