| Election 2018: Make young children a priority |
High-quality early education is a research-based strategy for helping children prepare for success in school and life. Yet here in Massachusetts, many children don’t have this opportunity, due to cost, quality, and access issues. This election season, be a champion for young children and high-quality early education. Whether as a voter or candidate, there are many ways to advocate. Visit our election webpage for resources, fact sheets, local election information, and more. Let's level the playing field for all our children, and live up to our state’s reputation as a national leader in education and social policy. |
| Back to school – Back to working for young children and families |
The recently passed fiscal year 2019 state budget is the first in 10 years to surpass the pre-recession high point (FY09) of state funding for early education and care. This fall, Strategies for Children (SFC) is paying close attention to two key items in the budget: Preschool implementation grants, and support for early educators. Read more about our ‘back to school’ priorities. “Early education advocacy is a long-term effort,” says Chris Martes, President and CEO of Strategies for Children. “It’s great that the state is investing more in preschool and the workforce. Now we need to sustain the high-quality programs we have and make steady progress to reach more and more communities over time.” |
| Educare Springfield: Early education takes a giant step forward |
On September 17, civic partners gathered in the city of Springfield and broke ground on what will be a $14 million Educare Center, a school that will open next year and provide “a full-day and full-year program for up to 141 children from birth to age five each year,” MassLive.com reports. As we’ve blogged, Springfield’s educators and philanthropists have called this Educare project a “dream come true,” one that promises to provide the city’s children with increased access to a high-quality early education program. Read about the ground breaking ceremony, and a speech from Tasheena M. Davis, a parent who spoke at the event. |
 Check out our Eye on Early Education blog for recent stories you may have missed. |
Unpacking MCAS 2018, October 4 The Wonder of Learning Exhibit — See it while it’s still in Boston, September 27 Massachusetts is Number One in education — but only for some students, September 26 Paving a path from preschool to kindergarten, September 20 Space matters: Massachusetts invests in improving early education buildings and facilities, September 18 Boston Magazine reports on preschool, September 11 |
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Nurtury @NurturyBoston Oct 5 The Boston Basics @bostonbasics Sep 27 CAP Early Childhood @CAPEarlyEd Sep 26 Dan Yaeger @DanYaeger Sep 24 UMass Boston Early Ed Institute @IEELIInstitute Sep 21 EarlyEducationForAll @EarlyEd4All Sep 21 EarlyEducationForAll @EarlyEd4All Sep 10
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notes from Amy
Tatiana Roll and Shelby Holt in Boston, Melissa Perry in Salem, Shamica Dade in Springfield, and Mary Frances Kroyak in West Yarmouth. Telling your story is an important step in becoming the best advocate for children that you can be. Why do you advocate? And, for whom do you advocate? As comedian Michael Jr. explains, “When you know your ‘why,’ your ‘what’ will be more impactful.” Think of your “why” this election season, and help us make young children and families a priority on the campaign trail. Election day is Tuesday, November 6. The last day to register to vote is Wednesday, October 17. Our election webpage has fact sheets, voting links, and talking points for candidates and voters alike. If we want our elected officials (local, state, and federal) to prioritize high-quality early education and care, then we must tell them that it’s important to us, to our families, to our communities. Click here to see which offices are on the ballot in November. Make sure you do some research on the three questions on the ballot before you get to the voting booth. Click here for more information about the questions on the ballot in Massachusetts. Finally, please VOTE. Make a plan and commit to vote. Every. Vote. Counts. You can make a difference!
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Voice matters, and the voices of early educators matter. Through our Eye on Early Education blog, we continue to share early educators’ stories in their own words: 
