By Scott McLennan
A special commission examining early childhood education in the state has issued its report, which calls for higher
reimbursement rates for subsidized programs, more
money to reduce waiting lists for families seeking
access to subsidized care, and improved oversight
of health and safety regulations.
Early Education and Care Commissioner
Thomas Weber chaired the panel, which included
about two dozen legislators and representatives
from the field of education. MTA Vice President
Tim Sullivan was the association’s member on the
commission — known as the Special Commission on
Early Education and Care Operations and Finance.
The commission met throughout the fall and released
its report on Dec. 31.
“Right now, we have too many children on
waiting lists to access quality care, and too many
good educators are forced to leave centers where
they simply can’t earn a living. High teacher
turnover undermines the quality of education and
services that preK centers can offer to disadvantaged
students,” Sullivan said.
The special commission’s report stated
that “compensation for early educators in the
Commonwealth is insufficient and does not reflect
qualifications or competency, causing the current 29
percent turnover rate in the early education field in
Massachusetts.” The commission recommended that
for subsidized care, which in turn could support
higher salaries for educators working in centers that
accept such vouchers.
The report identified more than 40,000 income-eligible children on waiting lists for services that
fall under the purview of the Department of Early
Education and Care. Governor Deval Patrick’s fiscal
2015 budget proposal, released shortly after the
commission’s report, calls for $15 million in new
funding to tackle the waiting-list problem, though
that figure would reduce the number by only 1,700
children.
In the area of health and safety, the commission
recommended adding up to 100 licensors and
bringing the department’s investigative unit back up
to 10 employees.
Early childhood educators lobby for improvements
Commission calls for increase in reimbursement rates
Senate President Therese Murray, pictured at left, was invited by MECEU supporters to visit the Learning Safari Early Childhood Education Center
in Plymouth. Representative Jeffrey Sánchez, center, voiced his support for the MECEU at a legislative hearing on Nov. 25. At right, Nicole Coakley,
director of the Children’s Creative Center in Springfield, presented Representative Benjamin Swan with a “thank you” card made by students.
By Scott McLennan
F ollowing a strong showing at a hearing before the Legislature’s Public Service Committee in November, early childhood educators across
the state have ramped up efforts to ensure that a bill
that would give them authority to form a providers’
organization continues to gain momentum in the
House and Senate.
“An Act to Improve Quality in Early Education
Centers” would allow educators, directors and
owners of early education centers where at least 10
percent of the children receive state subsidies to form
a nontraditional union. The organization would meet
with the state Department of Early Education and
Care to discuss policies and regulation.
The Massachusetts Early Childhood Educators
Union, the grassroots organization behind the bill,
has the support of the MTA, which has made the
bill’s passage a top legislative priority; the National
Education Association; the American Federation
of Teachers Massachusetts and the national AFT;
and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. The providers’
organization would be jointly affiliated with the
MTA and the AFT.
“We want people to be confident and feel proud
to work in the field,” MTA President Paul Toner said
during his testimony before the Joint Committee on
Public Service on Nov. 25. “It is our intent to see the
best people stay in the field.”
Toner echoed a common theme among
supporters of the legislation. Early childhood
educators, legislators and other supporters testified
that educators too often leave small private centers
because of low wages and underfunded professional
development programs. Such turnover was called
the biggest impediment to ensuring quality early
childhood education.
To drive home the message, MECEU activists
have been inviting members of the Legislature to
visit centers that support the bill. Senate President
Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) spent time one day in
January with the staff and children at Learning Safari
Early Childhood Education Center in Plymouth.
MTA Vice President Tim Sullivan joined Murray
and stressed the importance of the MECEU effort to
help the state’s most resource-needy centers serve
vulnerable families.
“Early educational opportunities must be given
to all children regardless of economic status, which
can only be achieved by ensuring that good teachers
are able to stay where they are most needed — in
preschool classrooms and child care agencies across
Massachusetts,” Sullivan said.
“An Act to Improve Quality in Early Education
Centers” (House 477/Senate 223) would include
roughly 5,000 employees working at 500 centers,
most of which are small. The providers’ organization
would advocate for adequate funding to support
quality assurance regulations and professional
training, increased reimbursement rates for vouchers
used by income-eligible students to help raise pay
and retain staff, and additional funding for children
now on waiting lists for subsidized preK centers.
The MECEU points to its growing support
among legislators. Students at the Children’s
Creative Center in Springfield made a card to thank
Representative Benjamin Swan (D-Springfield) for
his support, and center Director Nicole Coakley
delivered it to his office. MECEU activists are
planning to lobby legislators at the State House on
March 6 following a briefing for House and Senate
members being organized by Representative Jeffrey
Sánchez (D-Jamaica Plain), one of the bill’s lead
sponsors.
