By Bob Katzen

The Senate 40-0, approved and sent to the House a bill aimed at making early education and care money more accessible and affordable for young families across the Bay State. The bill would make high-cost state grants for early education and care providers permanent; increase the income threshold to make more families eligible for childcare subsidies; and establish recommended salary and benefit guidelines for early childhood teachers commensurate with K-12 public school teachers.

Under current law subsidies are limited to households whose incomes equal up to 50 percent of the state median income, or $73,000. The bill would raise the eligibility threshold to 85 percent of the state median income, or $124,000 for a family of four.

“Access to high-quality, affordable early education and childcare is essential for the healthy development of young children, as well as for the economic well-being of working families and employers in the commonwealth,” said Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), lead sponsor and Senate Chair of the Committee on Education. “With the passage today of the Early Ed Act, Massachusetts is demonstrating national leadership in addressing the broken early education and childcare system in our country.”

“From my first day in the Senate, I have been pushing for expanded access to early education and increasing staff salaries to ensure educators can earn a good living,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “This critical legislation will drastically expand access to affordable, high-quality, early education and childcare and deliver significantly better pay and benefits for early educators. I am proud to support this bill which helps move our state one step closer to guaranteeing every child will receive world-class education from childhood through adulthood. We must get this bill over the finish line and keep our state a livable and welcoming home for families of all incomes.”

“An equitable and competitive commonwealth is one in which every child and family has access to affordable quality early education,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “At the same time, we must recognize the incredible work of the providers who are shaping the minds and hearts of our earliest learners. Today I’m proud that the Massachusetts Senate is once again taking action to lower costs for families, open up more opportunities for children, increase pay for our early educators and make support for providers permanent so they can keep their doors open and thrive for years to come.

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes