MA
Massachusetts Senate Bill S2619

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2619

Introduced
2/8/24  
Refer
2/8/24  

Caption

Providing affordable and accessible high-quality early education and care to promote child development and well-being and support the economy in the Commonwealth

Impact

If enacted, S2619 would significantly impact the landscape of early childhood education by revising funding structures and enhancing financial support for both families and care providers. The bill proposes a systematic review and adjustment of the costs associated with providing high-quality early education services, aiming to meet the needs of families across varying demographic and socio-economic spectrums. This includes the implementation of a tiered financial assistance program aimed at reducing the financial burden on low-income families.

Summary

Senate Bill S2619 aims to provide affordable and accessible high-quality early education and care in Massachusetts. It expands definitions within chapter 15D of the Massachusetts General Laws to include terms such as 'caregiver' and 'high needs.' The legislation emphasizes financial assistance for eligible families, operational grants for care providers, and seeks to ensure equitable access to educational and developmental opportunities for children, particularly those from backgrounds with high needs.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support for its focus on improving early education access and quality, there are concerns regarding its implementation, particularly regarding funding sustainability and the potential bureaucracy involved in administering the operational grants. Additionally, stakeholders express the need for clarity in how the operational grant formulas will be established, as there may be disparities between rural and urban providers in accessing these funds. The effectiveness of such a wide-reaching program will depend greatly on ensuring that all families, regardless of socio-economic status, can access quality early education without excessive administrative hurdles.

Companion Bills

MA S296

Similar To Relative to universal prekindergarten access

MA S284

Similar To Creating a disproportionate share childcare provider fund

MA S301

Similar To Providing affordable and accessible high quality early education and care to promote child development and well-being and support the economy in the Commonwealth

MA S2707

Similar To Ensuring affordability, readiness and learning for our youth and driving economic development

MA S2697

Replaced by Ensuring affordability, readiness and learning for our youth and driving economic development

MA S255

Replaces Relative to access for after school and out-of-school time programs

Previously Filed As

MA S301

Providing affordable and accessible high quality early education and care to promote child development and well-being and support the economy in the Commonwealth

MA H489

Providing affordable and accessible high-quality early education and care to promote child development and well-being and support the economy in the Commonwealth

MA S836

Providing access to higher education for high school graduates in the Commonwealth

MA S265

Relative to quality funding for early childhood education and care programs

MA HR1443

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all young children and families should have access to high-quality, affordable child care and early education.

MA S1799

Providing for climate change adaptation infrastructure and affordable housing investments in the commonwealth

MA H7547

Establishes the Rhode Island Child Care for All Act which would provide high quality and affordable child care to families throughout the state.

MA S318

Providing for the creation of a permanent commission relative to the education of American Indian and Alaska Native residents of the Commonwealth

MA S2697

Ensuring affordability, readiness and learning for our youth and driving economic development

MA H5321

Establishes the Rhode Island Child Care for All Act which would provide high quality and affordable child care to families throughout the state.

Similar Bills

MA H223

Establishing a special commission on two-generation approaches to childhood education

MA H291

Establishing a special commission on two-generation approaches to childhood education

MA S79

To establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet

MA S115

Establishing a Massachusetts children’s cabinet

MA H189

To establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet

MA H3302

To establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet

MA H2899

Relative to supporting social workers

MA S346

Resolve establishing a commission to study the funding of high-quality early education and care in Massachusetts