Bill > H4665

This bill aims to ensure high-quality early education in Massachusetts. It proposes several key provisions: 1. Establishing a rate structure and sliding fee scale for subsidized early education and care programs that aligns with federal and state quality and safety standards, with public hearings and board approval required before any changes. 2. Creating an early childhood mental health consultation grant program to provide on-site services and workforce development to support the social and emotional needs of children in early education and care programs, with a focus on preventing expulsions and suspensions. 3. Developing performance standards to significantly limit the use of suspension and expulsion in licensed early education and care programs, including requirements for staff training, family engagement, and accessing technical assistance. 4. Establishing an early education and care educator scholarship program to cover tuition, fees, and related expenses for early educators pursuing associate or bachelor's degrees to meet teacher and program quality standards. The bill also requires the Department of Early Education and Care to file reports on recommendations to support continued programming in communities awarded the federal Preschool Expansion Grant and on the design and implementation plans for the educator scholarship program.

Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4665