“Establishing universal pre-K for children in Gateway cities has been a priority of Gov. Maura Healey’s since she announced the ‘Gateway to Pre-K‘ initiative in January 2024. At the center of the proposal was a lofty goal: By the end of 2026, every family of a 4-year-old in the state’s 26 Gateway Cities will have the opportunity – at low or no cost – to enroll their child in a preschool program that prepares them for kindergarten.
“The legislature has so far allocated about $60 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), the main state grant program through which universal pre-K expansion is funded. Healey’s fiscal 2027 budget asks for another $32 million for CPPI with a ‘pledge to achieve universal pre-kindergarten funding in all Gateway Cities this year.’ But seven of the 26 cities have not applied for funds through the CPPI program. And, child care providers in cities that are participating say that while CPPI funding can be used for tuition relief, it does not cover every child fully. At the same time, other state programs – like Child Care Financial Assistance, which offers subsidies based on income level and family size – are struggling to serve all eligible families.
“ ‘There are many families that are paying… tuition because the CPPI grant money doesn’t have that full reach,’ assistant superintendent of Salem Public Schools Kate Carbone said. ‘We target the resources from the grant to the families with the highest need, but the funds don’t take care of everybody.’
“Early education advocates like Amy O’Leary, executive director of the nonprofit Strategies for Children, agree.
“ ‘Do we have enough money right now in the system to fully fund spaces for every 4-year-old in every Gateway City? We’re not there yet,’ O’Leary said. ‘But the approach that we’re taking I think is our best shot at figuring that out.’ “
“In 2022, Springfield became the first district in the state to offer free, full-day preschool for every 3- and 4-year-old. Before expanding to universal pre-K, the district found that some families were not sending their 4-year-olds to preschool because their annual income was too high to be eligible for state vouchers, but too low to pay for private pre-K tuition. Others struggled with accessing transportation, which is why the district added pre-K classrooms in every elementary school.
“Amy Kershaw, commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care, told CommonWealth Beacon that if the governor’s $32 million funding request is approved, the goal is to include the seven remaining Gateway Cities – Everett, Peabody, Leominster, Revere, Attleboro, Methuen, and Chelsea – in CPPI by the end of the year so they can start the process.”
— Healey has called for universal pre-K in every Gateway City by the year’s end. Providers say they won’t get there, by Hallie Claflin, CommonWealth Beacon, February 18, 2026