| The Case for State Investment in Early Education |
Chris Martes, Strategies for Children’s president and CEO, is featured in the latest edition of CommonWealth Magazine. In “A chance to lead on early education,” Martes writes that Massachusetts can be a national role model by building strong pre-K programs. This would prepare more children for lifelong success and set an example for other states. “From the White House to business boardrooms to the offices of scores of Republican and Democratic mayors, governors, and members of Congress, we’re seeing historic momentum on expanding and improving preschool programs,” Martes writes. “It is in this spirit of historic potential that we welcome Gov. Charlie Baker to the State House. He and his team have the opportunity to break new ground.” Read the full article. |
| Building on What Works |
=A new coalition held an event at the State House last week and asked legislators to create powerful new educational opportunities for children. The Building on What Works Coalition, co-chaired by Chris Martes of Strategies for Children, unites educators, business leaders, and elected officials who want to root out educational inequality and give all the state’s children the educational experiences they will need to thrive in our 21st century economy. The coalition is calling for the state’s fiscal year 2016 budget to invest $75 million in a fund that communities could use to take one or more of the following steps: expand access to high-quality early education, expand K-12 learning time by making school days or school years longer, and design innovative learning systems that draw on educators’ talents as well as on technology and public resources. Continue reading. |
| Governor Baker: Transition and Budget |
Once they were elected, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito asked a bipartisan transition committee to look at state operations. Now the transition committee has released a report that summarizes their findings and recommendations in five areas: economic growth, education, healthcare, safe communities, and better government. Strategies for Children’s Amy O’Leary served on the education subcommittee, and the report calls for focused investments in early education. Governor Baker is scheduled to release his fiscal year 2016 budget proposal on March 4. Now is the time for advocacy—see below for details on Rising Stars 2015 and send a message to the State House on behalf of young children. |
 Participate in Rising Stars 2015 and send stars and letters to Governor Baker and your state legislators. Help ensure that early education is at the top of the priority list for our elected officials. For more details, contact Laura Healy. |
 Check out our Eye on Early Education blog for recent stories you may have missed. |
A Guide to Help School Principals Become Champions of Early Learning, February 3 The Rennie Center Looks at the Condition of Education in Massachusetts, January 28 Research Reveals the Promise and Power of Babies’ Brains, January 21 A Playbook for Early Learning Communities, Courtesy of the White House, January 20 |
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MABusAllianceforEduc @MBAENews · Feb 6 National Center on Time & Learning @expanding_time · Feb 5 Helen Blank @BlankHelen · Feb 2 The Rennie Center @therenniecenter · Jan 22 Habitot @HabitotMuseum · Feb 4 |
notes from Amy
Help send a message to our leaders on Beacon Hill—participate in Rising Stars, send a letter asking for increased investments, invite elected officials to visit your program, tell your story. Massachusetts has a chance to lead on early education, let’s do it.
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Early education is gaining momentum. How many times have we said that over the last decade? Plenty! And, it was true each time. As I think back twenty years ago to when I first started as a preschool teacher in Massachusetts, some things are certainly different. However, too many things are still the same. With 2015 in full swing, there are many advocacy opportunities, policy proposals, and budget recommendations on the table in Massachusetts—all good news for children and families. We all want the same thing—increased investments, high-quality programs, and resources to support early educators. We believe those programs should be delivered in the mixed delivery system and should maximize and leverage the expertise from both the private and public sectors. We have seen promising models and increased collaboration in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. 
