Bill > S266

This bill declares it the policy of the Commonwealth to provide quality early education and care programs and services to all eligible families to support child development, school-readiness, and workforce participation. Within 120 days of enactment, the board of early education and care must submit a plan to state officials and legislative committees outlining how this policy will be implemented over two years, ensuring all eligible families on the waitlist receive access to services within 90 days of the plan's submission and full implementation within two years. The plan will also analyze the cost of expanding eligibility to children whose parents are not currently working and recommend ways to increase early educator wages to be comparable to those of public school teachers with similar qualifications. Additionally, the bill mandates that eligibility requirements for these programs will not be more restrictive than those in place as of January 1, 2015, and that the department will establish a rate structure for voucher and contracted payments to providers that considers the actual cost of quality care, variations in costs across different settings and age groups, and the needs of children with special needs. This rate structure will be reviewed and revised annually, with rates increasing by at least 3% or the prior year's Consumer Price Index increase, and providers must prioritize using any increased reimbursement rates to raise salaries for staff working directly with children and families, with remaining funds allocated to other expenditures that support quality care.