Are you ready to advocate for state early education and care funding?
The Massachusetts Senate is working to finalize their fiscal year 2026 (FY’26) budget proposal. Senators filed amendments in response to the Senate Ways and Means Committee proposal last week including a number related to early education and care in Massachusetts.
Senate budget debate starts next week with a vote of the full Senate to finalize their budget proposal. Contact your state senator and ask them to co-sponsor these early education and care amendments.
This year we’ve heard from many of you about how critical reopening access to child care financial assistance is to families and providers across our community. Now is the time to advocate for Amendment #751, which would allow the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to issue new vouchers and help more families get off the waitlist.
Ask your state senator to support these amendments!
Amendment #751 (Sen. Payano)—Child Care Financial Assistance: increases funding levels for the child care financial assistance program by $30 million to reopen access in line item 1596-2452.
Amendment #391 (Sen. Moore)—Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies: increases funding levels for the child care resources and referral agencies by $3 million to enable them to provide additional navigation support and caseload management to families eligible for the child care financial assistance program in line item 3000-2000.
Amendment #688 (Sen. Fattman)—Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant Program: increases funding levels for the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant program by $1 million to $12.7 million in line item 3000-7050.
Amendment #659 (Sen. Cronin)—Reach Out and Read: adds $750,000 for Reach Out and Read to line item 3000-7070.
Amendment #649 (Sen. Jehlen)—Jumpstart: adds $450,000 for Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. to line item 3000-1000.
You can customize and personalize the message to your senator. After the Senate finalizes their budget proposal the process will move to the Conference Committee to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions. Please share this email with your networks!
Visit our new Advocacy HQ site and stay tuned for more budget advocacy opportunities in the weeks and months ahead.