Healey expands common pre-k throughout 8 Massachusetts faculty districts

Common pre-k in Massachusetts took one other step ahead Tuesday, with the state increasing funding for this system throughout eight faculty districts.

“We know that the high cost of child care is holding back our families, our providers and our economy from their full potential,” mentioned Gov. Maura Healey. “That’s why we have been focused on expanding access to affordable, high-quality preschool, creating new seats for children in Gateway Cities and rural communities across the state.”

The varsity districts will obtain $1.7 million in Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) grants to develop seats and entry to preschool applications for all households.

The Healey administrations launched the “Gateway to Pre-K” initiative earlier within the 12 months, committing to increasing common inexpensive preschool for all 4-year-olds in 26 cities in Massachusetts by 2026. This funding builds on $16.4 million invested in increasing common pre-k this fiscal 12 months, and with these new grants, 19 of the 26 cities at the moment are receiving CPPI grants increasing preschool entry.

Six districts included in Tuesday’s announcement — in Gloucester, Haverhill, Holyoke, Hoosac Valley, New Bedford and Westfield — will develop their present common pre-k applications, including a complete of 259 seats in public and community-based preschool applications.

The remaining two districts in Chicopee and Taunton will obtain $50,000 every to draft a plan and work by early implementation for his or her common pre-k applications, together with placing collectively a wants evaluation, management workforce and neighborhood companions.

The CPPI grants work with a variety of early teaching programs to fulfill the totally different wants of households, together with particular teaching programs. The grants additionally present funding for scholarships for working households to obtain low or no value preschool.