Massachusetts Senate releases FY25 budget proposal

On Tuesday, May 7, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its $58 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2025. The budget represents a 3.3% increase over the current fiscal year 2024 budget and $100 million less than the House budget.

The executive summary of the Senate budget highlights investments in early education and care, and the Senate's goal to prioritize accessibility and affordability. The executive summary states, "With this increased level of funding, we are further building upon a sturdy foundation to support our early education and care workforce in an impactful way, while ensuring accessible and affordable care for children and families across the state."

The Senate proposal includes $1.56 billion for early education and care. This includes fully funding the Commonwealth Cares for Children, or C3, grants at $475 million (line items 3000-1045, 1596-2410). The budget also includes $65 million to sustain and provide additional rate increases for early education and care providers (1596-2434), $80 million for child care affordability (1596-2435), and $32.5 million for preschool expansion in the CPPI grant program (3000-6025, 1596-2412). In Outside Sections of the budget, the Senate includes 11 early education and care sections. Together with budget line items, these sections codify several provisions from the Senate’s recently passed EARLY ED Act, including making C3 grants permanent, expanding eligibility for child care subsidies, establishing a career ladder for early educators, and creating a matching grant pilot program for employers investing in child care.

See below for more information about specific early education and care line items. Senators have until Friday May 10 to file amendments to the budget, and will begin debate the week of May 20.

Contact SFC Deputy Director Titus DosRemedios if you would like more information, and check this webpage for future updates and advocacy opportunities.

EEC Administration (3000-1000)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $7,069,823 [includes $200,000 for a Cape and Islands early education needs assessment, $50,000 for Nurtury, Inc., $100,000 for More Than Words, Inc., $25,000 for East End House, $250,000 for Jumpstart, and $50,000 for Square One]
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $12,201,537 [includes includes $5 million for additional navigation support and outreach to families, $100,000 for More than Words in Boston, $25,000 for Child Care of the Berkshires, $60,000 for Acre Family Child Care in Lowell, $350,000 for Jumpstart for Young Children, $25,000 for East End House in Cambridge, and $50,000 for Springfield Day Nursery] For language on subsidy payment based on enrollment, see 3000-3060 and 3000-4060.
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $12,426,537 [language includes $50,000 for the Elizabeth Peabody House Association in Somerville; $35,000 for the Hyde Square Task Force, Inc. for creative development and community engagement programs; $100,000 for More Than Words, Inc. for a job training program for youth and young parents; $50,000 for capital improvements for the Haskins facility of Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc.; $50,000 for For Kids Only Afterschool, Incorporated for a pilot workforce development program to support programming for low-income and at-risk children and educators; $450,000 for Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. to support evidence-based early childhood education programs that promote language, literacy and social emotional skill development for preschool children from underserved communities; and $100,000 for the city of Boston to provide infant mental health endorsement training for early education and care providers]
FY25 Governor: $12,189,926
FY25 HWM: $32,068,027 includes $10,000,000 for an early education and care educator scholarship program and $10,000,000 for an early education and care educator loan forgiveness program (see outside section 17).
FY25 House Final: $40,218,027 includes $10,000,000 for an early education and care educator scholarship program and $10,000,000 for an early education and care educator loan forgiveness program (see outside section 17). Amended to include $100,000 for the young parents program at More Than Words, Inc.; $50,000 for Associates for Human Services, Inc. early intervention program in the city of Taunton; $8,000,000 for grants to early education and care providers for costs associated with personal childcare.
FY25 SWM: $12,189,926

Quality Improvement (3000-1020)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $44,551,119
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $44,551,119
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $46,706,191
FY25 Governor: $47,603,764
FY25 HWM and House Final: $47,603,764
FY25 SWM: $53,603,764 includes $6 million for Summer Step Up.

Rate Increase for Early Educators in Center-Based and Family Child Care (3000-1041)
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $20,000,000
FY25 Governor: see line item 1596-2434 below.
FY25 HWM and House Final: see line item 1596-2434 below.
FY25 SWM: see line item 1596-2434 below.

Rate Increase for Early Educators in Center-Based Programs (3000-1042)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $20,000,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $60,000,000, includes language "provided, that not less than $20,000,000 shall be expended to increase the reimbursement rate by an appropriate percentage for all such providers; provided further, that not less than $40,000,000 shall be expended to increase the reimbursement rate through a daily quality add-on rate by the same percentage for all such providers, inclusive of administration staff in family child care systems agencies"
FY24 Final Budget: $35,000,000 [includes $15 million for grants to early education and care providers for costs associated with personal childcare; language allows an additional $25 million in unspent FY23 subsidy funds from 3000-3060 and 3000-4060 to be used for a center-based rate increase in FY24]. See also $25 million in line item 1596-2434 below.
9C cut, 1-8-24: -$12,000,000. Governor's public comment: "I am reducing this item by $12 M. $5 M of this reduction will align the early educator scholarship program with FY23 funding levels, and $7 M of this reduction will be offset by funding rolled over from FY23 to still enable the planned $65 M provider rate increase."
FY25 Governor: see line item 1596-2434 below.
FY25 HWM and House Final: see line item 1596-2434 below.
FY25 SWM: see line item 1596-2434 below.

Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Stabilization Grants (3000-1045)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: not funded
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $250,000,000
Economic Development Bill, November 2022: $150,000,000
FY23 Supplemental Budget: $68 million
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $475,000,000 [includes data and reporting requirements] (funding sources: High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund 47.37%, General Fund 52.63%)
FY25 Governor: $325,000,000 (+$150,000,000 in line item 1596-2410 below). For grants to support available capacity, support workforce and address operational costs within the early education and care sector; provided, that grants shall be available to child care programs supervised by the department of early education and care; provided further, that the distribution of grants shall prioritize equity and early education programs with higher percentages of state subsidized enrollment; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs, including but not limited to, the number of enrolled children, number of educators employed, and a breakdown of the funding from the operational grants spent to recruit and retain employees; and provided further, that the department shall report such data to the joint committee on education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance on a quarterly basis
General Fund ............... 18.46%; High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund ............... 81.54%
FY25 HWM: $200,000,000 (plus line items 3000-1048, 1596-2410): For operational grants to child care providers whose enrollment includes at least 25 per cent of children with a child care financial assistance subsidy; provided, that funds from this line item shall be expended in coordination with funds from line items 3000-1048 and 1596-2410; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs including, but not limited to: (i) the number of enrolled children; (ii) the number of educators employed; (iii) efforts to recruit and retain employees; (iv) any available demographic data of the families served by participating providers; (v) to the extent feasible, the income level of the families served by participating providers; and (vi) the amount of operational grants spent by provider, delineated by category of spending; provided further, that programs shall respond to all data collection requests and surveys from the department to be eligible for said grants; provided further, that the department shall report such data as required by section 20 of chapter 15D of the General Laws, as inserted by section 22; and provided further, that administrative costs for the program shall not exceed 2 per cent of the total appropriation for said program. High-Quality EEC Fund............................................100%
FY25 House Final: $200,000,000 (plus line items 3000-1048, 1596-2410): For operational grants to child care providers whose enrollment includes at least 25 per cent of children with a child care financial assistance subsidy, or Head Start or Early Head Start; provided, that funds from this line item shall be expended in coordination with funds from line items 3000-1048 and 1596-2410; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs including, but not limited to: (i) the number of enrolled children; (ii) the number of educators employed; (iii) efforts to recruit and retain employees; (iv) any available demographic data of the families served by participating providers; (v) to the extent feasible, the income level of the families served by participating providers; and (vi) the amount of operational grants spent by provider, delineated by category of spending; provided further, that programs shall respond to all data collection requests and surveys from the department to be eligible for said grants; provided further, that the department shall report such data as required by section 20 of chapter 15D of the General Laws, as inserted by section 22; and provided further, that administrative costs for the program shall not exceed 2 per cent of the total appropriation for said program. High-Quality EEC Fund............................................100%
FY25 SWM: $325,000,000 For grants to support and stabilize the early education and care workforce and address varied operational costs at state child care programs supervised by the department of early education and care; provided, that the distribution of stabilization grants shall prioritize equity and early education programs with higher percentages of state subsidized enrollment; provided further, that an early education and care provider that is not an eligible organization as defined in section 18 of chapter 15D of the General Laws and that, directly or through an affiliate, operates more than 10 center-based programs in the commonwealth shall: (i) not receive funds through this item that total more than 1 per cent of the sum of this item and item 1596-2410, unless the provider is granted a waiver by the commissioner deeming such allocation to be in the best interest of the commonwealth; (ii) demonstrate a willingness to accept children receiving child care financial assistance at each program location operated by the provider or an affiliate of the provider in proportion to the provider’s size, as determined by the department; (iii) dedicate a certain percentage of the funds that the provider receives through this line item, as determined by the department, to increasing compensation for their early educators; and (iv) annually provide the department with an audited financial statement detailing how the provider has spent funds received through this item; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs, including, but not limited to, the: (i) number of enrolled children; (ii) number of educators employed; (iii) efforts to recruit and retain employees; (iv) available demographic data of the families served by participating providers; and (v) percentage of grant funding spent on salaries, compensation, workforce training and facilities improvements; provided further, that the department shall submit quarterly reports on the distribution of funds from this item to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education; provided further, that each report shall include, but not be limited to: (a) a description of the formula through which funding is allocated to providers; (b) an analysis of the incorporation of equity into said formula, including the projected disbursement of funding to state subsidized and nonstate subsidized child care programs; (c) an analysis of the demographic data of the families served by participating programs including, but not limited to, the number of children served in: (1) communities with a high social vulnerability index; and (2) communities with an area median income of not more than 85 per cent of the state median income; and (d) a description of the efforts undertaken to improve the distribution of funds to providers serving high-needs populations; provided further, that funds may be expended by the department for technica assistance related to the administration and distribution of funding; and provided further, that funds may be expended to support data collection technology, personnel and supports related to this item.
High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund ....................................... 81.54%
General Fund................................................. 18.46%

Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Stabilization Grants (3000-1048)
FY25 HWM and House Final: $100,000,000 (plus line items 3000-1045, 1596-2410): For operational grants to child care providers whose enrollment includes no children with child care financial assistance subsidies; provided, that the department shall prioritize payments to family and center-based providers who serve low-income and middle-income families who are on the waitlist for or not otherwise enrolled in the child care financial assistance subsidy system; provided further, that funds from this line item shall be expended in coordination with funds from line items 3000-1045 and 1596-2410; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs including, but not limited to: (i) the number of enrolled children; (ii) the number of educators employed; (iii) efforts to recruit and retain employees; (iv) any available demographic data of the families served; (v) to the extent feasible, the income level of the families served; and (vi) the amount of operational grants spent by provider, delineated by category of spending; provided further, that programs shall respond to all data collection requests and surveys from the department to be eligible for said stabilization grants; provided further, that the department shall report such data as required by section 20 of chapter 15D of the General Laws, as inserted by section 22; provided further, that funds may be expended for departmental technical assistance related to the administration and distribution of funding; and provided further, that administrative costs for the program shall not exceed 2 per cent of the total appropriation for said program. Early Education and Care Operational Grant Fund ...100%
FY25 SWM: see 3000-1045 and 1596-2410

Employer-Supported Child Care Pilot (3000-1049)
FY25 SWM: $2,500,000 For the department of early education and care, in consultation with the executive office of economic development, to establish a competitive matching grant pilot program to increase access to high quality and affordable child care by incentivizing employer investments; provided, that said program shall be open to applications from a Massachusetts employer, a group of Massachusetts employers or an early education and care provider partnering with a Massachusetts employer or group of Massachusetts employers; provided further, that said program shall fund investments in infrastructure, startup, employment, and other related costs to establish new early education and care slots or increase the number of children that can be served by at least one provider; provided further, that an applicant shall: (i) commit to investing not less than 50 per cent of the expected cost of infrastructure, startup, employment, or other costs related to creating new early education and care slots; (ii) certify that early educators who serve hildren in slots funded by this program are paid pursuant to salary and compensation guidelines established by the department; and (iii) ensure that early education and care providers funded through this program enroll or commit to enrolling children receiving child care financial assistance; provided further, that the
department shall seek to maximize equity when reviewing and selecting grant applicants, including prioritizing applications that: (1) support higher numbers of children from low-income families; (2) present a plan for maintaining affordable tuition prices for families; (3) are from applicants located in rural areas or in areas with a short of early education and care slots; (4) support historically underserved populations, infants, toddlers, families with nontraditional work hours, and families with children with high needs; (5) promote equity in other ways as deemed appropriate by the department; and (6) support high-demand and low wage industries; provided further, that an early education and care provider shall not be eligible to participate in the pilot program unless the provider is a non-profit organization, an organization in which a non-profit organization has a controlling financial or managerial interest or a licensed family home-based early education and care provider; provided further, that, not later than December 2, 2024, the department of early education and care shall file a report on the pilot program with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on education; and provided further, the report shall include, but not be limited to: (a) number of program partcipants; (b) number of early education and care slots support by this line item; (c) percentage of slots filled by children receiving child care financial assistance; and (d) guidelines for a potential permanent program.

Access Management (3000-2000)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $12,000,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $15,000,000
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $20,000,000
FY25 Governor: $20,000,000
FY25 HWM and House Final: $20,000,000
FY25 SWM: $20,000,000

Supportive Child Care & TANF (3000-3060)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $358,928,901. Includes language re. improved child care funding models, and transferring unspent funds to 3000-1045: provided further, that not later than December 30, 2021, the commissioner shall report to the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the implementation or further development of an improved funding model for child care sustainability and quality; provided further, that not later than April 15, 2022, the commissioner shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance the projected expenses for the program; provided further, that if the department of early education and care determines that the available appropriation exceeds projected expenses, the commissioner shall transfer the amount that would otherwise be unspent by June 30, 2022 to item 3000-1045.
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $325,541,422, includes language: "provided, that providers shall be reimbursed for subsidized childcare services funded under this item based on enrollment." Includes eligibility language: "in light of the economic impact of COVID-19, for families participating in education and training services funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program"
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $346,587,135
FY25 Governor: $356,587,135
FY25 HWM and House Final: $356,587,135
FY25 SWM: $356,587,135

Income Eligible (3000-4060)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $298,702,892. Includes language re. improved child care funding models, and transferring unspent funds to 3000-1045:
provided further, that not later than December 30, 2021, the commissioner shall report to the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the implementation or further development of an improved funding model for child care sustainability and quality; provided further, that not later than April 15, 2022, the commissioner shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance the projected expenses for the program; provided further, that if the department of early education and care determines that the available appropriation exceeds projected expenses, the commissioner shall transfer the amount that would otherwise be unspent by June 30, 2022 to item 3000-1045.
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $368,108,945, includes language: "provided, that providers shall be reimbursed for subsidized childcare services funded under this item based on enrollment."
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $407,188,233
FY25 Governor: $417,188,233
FY25 HWM and House Final: $417,188,233
FY25 SWM: $417,188,233

Head Start (3000-5000)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $15,000,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $16,500,000
FY24 Final Budget: $17,500,000
FY25 Governor: $15,000,000
FY25 HWM and House Final: $17,500,000
FY25 SWM: $18,500,000

Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (3000-6025)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $10,000,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $15,000,000
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $15,000,000 (plus additional $5,500,000 in 1596-2412 below)
FY25 Governor: $17,673,127 (+$21,000,000 in line item 1596-2412 below)
FY25 HWM and House Final: $15,000,000
FY25 SWM: $17,523,127 (+$15,000,000 in line item 1596-2412 below)

Early Childhood Mental Health (3000-6075)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $3,000,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $3,500,000
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $5,000,000 (funding source: Behavioral Health Outreach, Access and Support Trust Fund)
FY25 Governor: $5,000,000
FY25 HWM and House Final: $5,000,000
FY25 SWM: $5,000,000

EEC Contingency Contract Retained Revenue (3000-7040)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $320,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $320,000
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $320,000
FY25 Governor: $520,000
FY25 HWM and House Final: $520,000
FY25 SWM: $520,000

Services for Infants and Parents (3000-7050)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $11,539,190
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $11,699,190, includes language: "provided further, that not more than $160,000 shall be expended for technical assistance."
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $11,859,190 [includes $160,000 for technical assistance]
FY25 Governor: $11,859,190
FY25 HWM and House Final: $11,859,190
FY25 SWM: $11,859,190

Parent Child+ (3000-7052)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $3,300,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $4,000,000
FY24 Conference Committee: $4,250,000
FY24 Governor Veto: -$250,000 (reduces to $4,000,000)
FY24 Final Budget: $4,250,000
FY25 Governor: $4,000,000
FY25 HWM and House Final: $4,000,000
FY25 SWM: $4,000,000

Neighborhood Villages pilot (3000-7055)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $1,000,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $1,000,000
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $1,000,000
FY25 Governor: $1,000,000
FY25 HWM and House Final: $1,000,000
FY25 SWM: $1,000,000

Workforce Development Initiative (3000-7066)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $5,000,000
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $10,000,000
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $10,000,000
FY25 Governor: $10,000,000
FY25 HWM and House Final: $10,000,000
FY25 SWM: not funded

Reach Out and Read (3000-7070)
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $1,548,228
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $1,548,228
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $1,750,000
FY25 Governor: $1,000,000
FY25 HWM: $1,000,000
FY25 House Final: $1,750,000
FY25 SWM: $1,000,000

Childcare Grants to Providers (1596-2410)
FY25 Governor: $150,000,000 For grants to support available capacity, support workforce, and address operational costs within the early education and care sector; provided, that grants shall be available to child care programs licensed or otherwise funded by the department of early education and care; provided further, that the distribution of grants shall prioritize equity and early education programs with higher percentages of state subsidized enrollment; provided further, that such grants shall be provided to child care providers whose enrollment includes at least fifty percent of children with a state subsidy; provided further, that funds from this line item shall be expended in coordination with funds from item 3000-1045; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs, including but not limited to: (i) the number of enrolled children; (ii) number of educators employed; and (iii) a breakdown of the funding from the operational grants spent to recruit and retain employees; and provided further, that the department shall report such data to the joint committee on education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance on a quarterly basis. (Funding source: Education and Transportation Fund)
FY25 HWM: $175,000,000 (plus line items 3000-1045, 3000-1048): For operational grants to child care providers; provided, that funds from this line item shall be expended in coordination with funds in line items 3000-1045 and 3000-1048; provided further, that not less than $40,000,000 shall be expended for child care providers whose enrollment includes at least 25 per cent of children with a child care financial assistance subsidy; provided further, that not less than $135,000,000 shall be expended for programs whose enrollment includes at least 1 per cent but less than 25 per cent of children with a child care financial assistance subsidy; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs including, but not limited to: (i) the number of enrolled children; (ii) the number of educators employed; (iii) efforts to recruit and retain employees; (iv) any available demographic data of the families served; (v) to the extent feasible, the income level of the families served; and (vi) the amount of operational grants spent by provider, delineated by category of spending; provided further, that programs shall respond to all data collection requests and surveys from the department to be eligible for said stabilization grants; provided further, that the department shall report such data as required by section 20 of chapter 15D of the General Laws, as inserted by section 22; provided further, that funds may be expended for departmental technical assistance related to the administration and distribution of funding; and provided further, that administrative costs for the program shall not exceed 2 per cent of the total appropriation for said program. Education and Transportation Fund ........................100%
FY25 House Final: $175,000,000 (plus line items 3000-1045, 3000-1048): For operational grants to child care providers; provided, that funds from this line item shall be expended in coordination with funds in line items 3000-1045 and 3000-1048; provided further, that not less than $40,000,000 shall be expended for child care providers whose enrollment includes at least 25 per cent of children with a child care financial assistance subsidy and Head Start and Early Head Start programs; provided further, that not less than $135,000,000 shall be expended for programs whose enrollment includes at least 1 per cent but less than 25 per cent of children with a child care financial assistance subsidy; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs including, but not limited to: (i) the number of enrolled children; (ii) the number of educators employed; (iii) efforts to recruit and retain employees; (iv) any available demographic data of the families served; (v) to the extent feasible, the income level of the families served; and (vi) the amount of operational grants spent by provider, delineated by category of spending; provided further, that programs shall respond to all data collection requests and surveys from the department to be eligible for said stabilization grants; provided further, that the department shall report such data as required by section 20 of chapter 15D of the General Laws, as inserted by section 22; provided further, that funds may be expended for departmental technical assistance related to the administration and distribution of funding; and provided further, that administrative costs for the program shall not exceed 2 per cent of the total appropriation for said program. Education and Transportation Fund ........................100%
FY25 SWM: $150,000,000 For grants to support available capacity, support workforce, and address operational costs within the early education and care sector; provided, that grants shall be available to child care programs licensed or otherwise funded by the department of early education and care; provided further, that the distribution of grants shall prioritize equity and early education programs with higher percentages of state subsidized enrollment; provided further, that an early education and care provider that is not an eligible organization as defined in section 18 of chapter 15D of the General Laws and that, directly or through an affiliate, operates more than 10 center-based programs in the commonwealth shall: (i) not receive funds through this item totaling more than 1 per cent of the sum of this item and item 3000-1045, unless the provider is granted a waiver by the commissioner deeming such allocation to be in the best interest of the commonwealth; (ii) demonstrate a willingness to accept children receiving child care financial assistance at each program
location operated by the provider or an affiliate of the provider in proportion to the provider’s size, as determined by the department; (iii) dedicate a certain percentage of the funds that the provider receives through this line item, as determined by the department, to increasing compensation for their early educators; and (iv) annually provide the department with an audited financial statement detailing how the provider has spent funds received through this item; provided further, that such grants shall be provided to child care providers whose enrollment includes not less than 50 per cent of children with a state subsidy; provided further, that funds from this item shall be expended in coordination with funds from item 3000- 1045; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs, including but not limited to: (a) the number of enrolled children; (b) number of educators employed; and (c) a breakdown of the funding from the operational grants spent to recruit and retain employees; and provided further, that the
department shall report such data to the joint committee on education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance on a quarterly basis.... Education and Transportation Fund................. 100%

Income Eligible Waitlist (1596-2411)
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $25,000,000 (funding source: Education and Transportation Fund)
FY25 Governor: not funded
FY25 HWM and House Final: $30,000,000: For efforts to reduce the waitlist for income-eligible early education and care programs; provided, that funds may be expended for teen parents and homeless families at risk of becoming eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided further, that funds may be expended for informal early education and care benefits for families meeting income-eligibility criteria; provided further, that not less than $15,000,000 shall be expended for the department’s fiscal year 2025 procurement of contracted early education slots; provided further, that the early education and care services funded from this item shall be distributed in a geographically-equitable manner that provides fair and adequate access to early education and care for all eligible individuals; and provided further, that not later than April 1, 2025, the department of early education and care shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the number of families removed from the waitlist through this item.
Education and Transportation Fund ........................100%
FY25 SWM: not funded

CPPI Pre-K Initiative (1596-2412)
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $5,500,000 (funding source: Education and Transportation Fund)
FY25 Governor: $21,000,000 For planning and implementation activities in cities, towns, regional school districts or educational collaboratives to expand pre-kindergarten or preschool opportunities on a voluntary basis to children who will be eligible for kindergarten within two school years, utilizing the Massachusetts Preschool Expansion Grant public-private partnership model; provided, that preference shall be given to districts in Gateway Cities or serving high percentages of high-needs students; provided further, that additional preference shall be given to districts that have completed strategic planning efforts that support expanding access to high-quality preschool; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds distributed from this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city, town, regional school district or educational collaborative and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town, regional school district or educational collaborative without further appropriation; provided further, that funds may be expended for Summer Step Up to support children entering kindergarten and early elementary school with academic and enrichment activities during the summer; provided further, that funds from this line item shall be expended in coordination with funds from item 3000-6025; and provided further, that appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months. (funding source: Education and Transportation Fund)
FY25 HWM and House Final: not funded
FY25 SWM: $15,000,000 For planning and implementation activities in cities, towns, regional school districts or educational collaboratives to expand pre-
kindergarten or preschool opportunities on a voluntary basis to children who will be eligible for kindergarten within 2 school years, utilizing the Massachusetts preschool expansion grant public- private partnership model; provided, that preference shall be given to districts serving high percentages of high-needs students; provided further, that additional preference shall be given to districts that have completed strategic planning efforts that support expanding access to high-quality preschool; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds distributed from this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city, town, regional school district or educational collaborative and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town, regional school district or educational collaborative without further appropriation ... Education and Transportation Fund................. 100%

Early education and care capital improvements (1596-2429)
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $15,000,000 (funding source: Education and Transportation Fund)
FY25 Governor: not funded
FY25 HWM: not funded
FY25 SWM: not funded

Grants to early education and care providers for personal child care (1596-2430)
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: see above, 3000-1042
FY25 Governor: not funded
FY25 HWM: not funded
FY25 SWM: not funded

Center-Based Rate Increase (1596-2434)
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $25,000,000 (funding source: Education and Transportation Fund). See above, line item 3000-1042.
FY25 Governor: $65,000,000 Rate Increase for Early Education and Care. For a child care provider rate reserve to sustain reimbursement rate increases from prior fiscal years and to further increase such rates for subsidized early education and care providers; provided, that rate increases funded from this reserve shall support salaries, benefits and stipends for professional development of early educators, as well as increase access to care for families; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item may be used to increase the reimbursement rate for all such providers using a methodology established by the department; provided further, that funds may be expended for increasing the daily add-on rate for comprehensive early education services for children with active cases at the department of children and families; provided further, that the commissioner of early education and care may transfer funds between this item and items 3000-3060 and 3000-4060, as necessary, for this purpose, under an allocation plan that shall detail, by object class, the distribution of the funds to be transferred and which shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 30 days before any such transfer; provided further, that $45,000,000 shall be used to annualize rate increases implemented in fiscal year 2024; and provided further, that $20,000,000 shall be used to fund additional rate increases for center-based and family child care providers in fiscal year 2025. (Funding source: Education and Transportation Fund)
FY25 HWM and House Final: $65,000,000 For a reimbursement rate increase for subsidized early education and care for salaries, benefits and stipends for professional development of early educators; provided, that funds appropriated in this item shall be used to increase the reimbursement rate by an appropriate percentage for all such providers; provided further, that funds shall be expended for increasing the daily add-on rate for comprehensive early education services for children with active cases at the department of children and families; provided further, that the commissioner of early education and care may transfer funds between line items 3000-3060 and 3000-4060, as necessary, for this purpose, under an allocation plan that shall detail, by object class, the distribution of the funds to be transferred and which shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 30 days before any such transfer; provided further, that $45,000,000 shall be expended to annualize rate increases implemented in fiscal year 2024;
and provided further, that $20,000,000 shall be expended for additional rate increases for subsidized early education and care.
Education and Transportation Fund ........................100%
FY25 SWM: $65,000,000 For a child care provider rate reserve to sustain reimbursement rate increases from prior fiscal years and to further increase such rates for subsidized early education and care providers; provided, that rate increases funded from this reserve shall support salaries, benefits and stipends for professional development of early educators, as well as increase access to care for families; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item may be used to increase the reimbursement rate for all such providers using a methodology established by the department; provided further, that funds may be expended for increasing the daily add-on rate for comprehensive early education services for children with active cases at the department of children and families; provided further, that the commissioner of early education and care may transfer funds between this item and items 3000-3060 and 3000-4060, as necessary, for this purpose, under an allocation plan that shall detail, by object class, the distribution of the funds to be transferred and which shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 30 days before any such transfer; provided further, that $45,000,000 shall be used to annualize rate increases implemented in fiscal year 2024; provided further, that $20,000,000 shall be used to fund additional rate increases for center-based and family child care providers in fiscal year 2025... Education and Transportation Fund................. 100%

Childcare Affordability (1596-2435)
FY25 Governor: $75,000,000 For efforts to make child care more affordable for families and to reduce the waitlist for income-eligible early education and care programs; provided, that subject to appropriation, the department of early education and care may use funds to expand eligibility to child care financial assistance to additional families with incomes up to 85 percent of state median income; provided further, that educators working in early education, out of school time and residential facilities licensed by the department may be eligible for prioritization pursuant to department policies; provided further, that funds may also be expended for informal early education and care benefits for families meeting income-eligibility criteria established by the department; and provided further, that not later than April 1, 2025, the department of early education and care shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance, the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the number of children placed in care through this item. (Funding source: Education and Transportation Fund)
FY25 HWM and House Final: not funded
FY25 SWM: $80,000,000 For efforts to make child care more affordable for families and to reduce the waitlist for income-eligible early education and care programs; provided, that subject to appropriation, the department of early education and care may use funds to expand eligibility to child care financial assistance to additional families with incomes not more than 85 per cent of the state median income; provided further, that educators working in early education, out of school time and residential facilities licensed by the department may be eligible for prioritization pursuant to department policies; provided further, that funds may also be expended for informal early education and care benefits for families meeting income-eligibility criteria established by the department; and provided further, that not later than April 1, 2025, the department of early education and care shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance, the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the number of children placed in care through this item. ... Education and Transportation Fund................. 100%

Massachusetts State Scholarship Program (7070-0065)
funds Early Childhood Educators Scholarship, estimated $3.2 million annually.
FY22 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $130,500,000 [includes $3,600,000 for ECE Scholarship]
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $175,150,000 [includes $5,000,000 for ECE Scholarship]
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: $175,650,000 [includes $5,000,000 for ECE Scholarship]
FY25 Governor: $175,188,311
FY25 HWM: $175,188,311 [includes $3,600,000 for ECE Scholarship]
FY25 House Final: $171,833,311
FY25 SWM: $175,188,311 [includes $5,000,000 for ECE Scholarship]

High-Quality Early Education and Care Affordability Fund Transfer (Outside Section 180)
FY23 Conference Committee and Final Budget (GAA): $175,000,000 in a one-time transfer to this new trust fund. See budget language here.
Economic Development Bill, November 2022: $315,000,000
FY24 Conference Committee and Final Budget: Used to fund Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Stabilization Grants (3000-1045), see above.
FY25 Governor: Used to fund Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Stabilization Grants (3000-1045), see above.
FY25 HWM: Used to fund Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Stabilization Grants (3000-1045), see above.
FY25 SWM: Used to fund Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Stabilization Grants (3000-1045), see above.

Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget Timeline
FY25 starts on July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.