State House
Photo: Alyssa Haywoode for Strategies for Children

On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, the Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee released its $55.8 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2024.

This proposal includes significant investments in early education and care, including $475 million for C3 operational grants, $15 million for grants to early education and care providers for personal child care, $25 million in new funding for early education and care capital improvements, and $30 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative. You can see more details about funding for early education and care on our State Budget Tracker.

Senators had until last Friday to file amendments to the $55.8 billion proposal. The Senate will start the debate on the budget next Tuesday, May 23. After the Senate passes its budget, a legislative conference committee will meet to negotiate differences between the House and Senate budgets.

You can continue to follow the process on the Legislature’s website and stay tuned for updates and opportunities for action!

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Here’s a quick recap of how the budget process has gone so far:

On March 1, the Healey-Driscoll Administration filed its $55.5 billion Fiscal Year 2024 budget recommendation. This proposal was GOOD NEWS for early childhood education and included $475 million to continue the state’s C3 operational grants, $25 million for financial assistance for low-income families, $30 million for Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative, $20 million for child care resource and referral services, and a $20 million rate increases for subsidized child care providers.

Then, the process moved to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. On April 12, the House Committee on Ways & Means released its FY’24 state budget proposal, totaling $56.2 billion and proposing major investments in early education and care. In his letter to members of the House, Chairman Aaron Michlewitz said “No area has had a greater impact on our workforce than early education and care. The lack of adequate and affordable child care continues to hamper our recovery. The House remains committed to investing more into early education.” The House investments include $290 million to continue the state’s C3 operational grants, plus an additional $200 million C3 funding through dedicated iLottery revenues; $90 million for rate increases; and $10 million for grants to early education and care providers for costs associated with personal child care.

If you have questions, or need additional information, please contact Titus DosRemedios. For more details visit Strategies for Children’s state budget webpage.