Affordable Childcare
January 18, 2024
“Covid gave us a bit of a gift. We had to cooperate and operate outside of silos to figure out how support and success could be achieved. It gave us this whole new level of permission,” Kim Davenport, vice president of Initiatives & Aligned Programs at Edward Street, says. “The question became...
November 30, 2023
For 140 years, we have advocated for quality early education and care in the community. Looking back, three issues persist. In fact, they are almost the same. Why is it, 140 years later, that we are still fighting the same battles? Why don’t these problems have solutions? Our board members...
October 30, 2023
When it comes to finding solutions to childcare issues in our local community, the research has been done and the conversations have been had. Now, thanks to the Equity from the Start Forum and support from families and community leaders, research is being turned into action Dodi Swope, the Project...
October 20, 2023
While the state has made some investment in stabilizing the early education field, programs still struggle to attract staff and invest in permanent wage increases. “No employer is going to increase wages one year when they can’t guarantee to keep it in subsequent years,” said Eve Gilmore, CEO of...
October 14, 2023
Iowa's example provides ideas for how Massachusetts can create more affordable childcare. Enter a grant-funded partnership with business where the state is cost-sharing with employers the cost of building and subsidizing childcare centers for their employees. The program reduced the state's child...
October 5, 2023
Investment in early education and childcare is essential to the success of young children, as well as those who work in the field. Last month, the Massachusetts State Budget for the 2024 Fiscal Year was finalized, and included victories and funding for early education and childcare. The budget...
September 3, 2023
As Casey Burns and Tempe Staples share in their guest column, " Today's families are busier than ever, often needing more than one income and desperately needing child care." They share updated data on the need in Worcester from a 100-plus-person interview project conducted by the Coalition for a...
June 1, 2023
“The system is so broken, it feels overwhelming,” said one parent. “Siento que nos falta mucha ayudar nos falta que se nos trate con igualdad,” said another. (I feel that we are lacking a lot of help, we are lacking equal treatment.) At forums organized by Equity from the Start, a joint effort of...
March 14, 2023
In 1852, Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to provide statewide public schooling. The rest of the country followed. Since then, public school districts have grown into stronger and better-funded systems. In 2022, Massachusetts spent $18,471,917,000 on the education of children in...
March 1, 2023
You’ve seen the news. Staffing shortages are affecting businesses across the state and country. The struggle to hire workers is hurting their bottom line and consumer access to goods and services. Affordable childcare offers an immediate solution with long term benefits. It allows more parents to...
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