Yesterday, Governor Maura Healey released her proposed state budget for fiscal year 2027.

In her budget message, the governor writes:

“Our $62.8 billion budget is a balanced, fiscally-responsible blueprint that meets this moment we are in, showing how we can simultaneously navigate the federal upheaval, live within our means ,and invest in our people and our institutions. Importantly, this budget does not propose any new taxes or fees. Instead, we worked hard to limit the growth in spending and keep it more in line with projected tax revenue growth, and to direct the dollars we do have to programs and services we know will make a difference.”

Healey’s budget proposal invests in early education and care by sustaining key funding in several line items, including C3 grants which are level-funded at $475 million. The budget increases investments in Child Care Financial Assistance to meet current caseload demands. The governor also proposes increases for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), funded at $36.95 million in her budget. Several other line items were level-funded in the budget, including Head Start, Resource and Referral agencies, and CFCE grants. 

There will be many opportunities for the early childhood community to learn more about the governor’s budget, including:

Briefing on Early Education in the Governor’s Budget
February 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m.
Join the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation for their first FY’27 Early Education Budget Briefing, a deep dive on the Governor’s budget! They will provide an overview on the state budget process and a high-level look at spending and revenue in the Governor’s FY 2027 proposed budget before diving into the details of proposals that affect early education in Massachusetts. You can register here.

Budget Breakdown: Governor Maura Healey’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 state budget proposal
February 11, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Join Strategies for Children and Neighborhood Villages for a review of Governor Healey’s FY’27 state budget proposal and gain a better understanding of the Massachusetts state budget process, the impact on funding for early education and care, and what you can do to advocate for a stronger early education and care system across the Commonwealth. Excel Linguistics will provide interpretation/translation from English to Spanish and to Portuguese. You can register here.

And be sure to watch or attend the Department of Early Education and Care’s Board meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Department officials plan to share a briefing on the Governor’s budget.

The governor’s budget proposal is the first step in the annual state budget process. Next, the House of Representatives will release its budget proposal in April, followed by the Senate in May. Plan to advocate in the months ahead by contacting your state representative and state senator. Stay tuned for more updates and advocacy opportunities.