Press Release: 10/15/2025
Board of Early Education and Care Approves New Funding Formula to Strengthen Child Care in Massachusetts
Massachusetts remains the only state with ongoing pandemic-era stabilization grants, delivering sustained support for families, educators, and providers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
10/15/2025
MEDIA CONTACT
Kim N. Le, Director of Communications
Phone
Call Kim N. Le, Director of Communications at 617-823-4874
Online
Email Kim N. Le, Director of Communications at Kim.Le@mass.gov
TAUNTON — The Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care voted unanimously today to adopt the standard Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) funding formula, following a successful public comment period and a public hearing with broad participation from educators, providers, community partners and families. This formula sets how much state C3 funding early education and care programs receive, which supports providers’ day-to-day operational costs, including compensation that enables programs to better recruit and retain their staff while mitigating increased costs for families.
Since launching in 2021, the C3 program has provided critical operating support to more than 90% of licensed early education and care programs statewide, delivering over $2 billion directly to providers and benefiting hundreds of thousands of children and families. C3 has effectively helped to stabilize the state’s child care system, enabling early education programs to remain open, and is supporting system-wide growth through investments in workforce, quality and affordability. The Board’s action today ensures that Massachusetts will continue to lead the nation as the only state sustaining pandemic-era stabilization grants at the same funding level as the federal government did, supporting a stronger, more affordable and more accessible child care system.
“Massachusetts is the number one state for having a baby, raising a family and being a working parent. That’s in large part due to our commitment to making the strongest child care and early education investments in the country,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I want to thank the Board for their partnership in making child care more affordable and supporting our hardworking providers.”
“The C3 program is one of the most important tools we have to support families and local child care businesses. This program has been a huge success, enabling our hardworking providers to invest in their staff and their economic mobility and professional development. I look forward to seeing how today’s vote will continue our progress in bolstering the early childhood workforce,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
The C3 formula provides monthly, predictable grants to programs serving children across the state. Under the formula approved today, programs will be expected to dedicate at least 50 percent of their C3 funding to workforce expenditures, including wages, benefits, and professional development. Also consistent with new state requirements, programs receiving C3 funding will need to attest to their willingness to enroll children receiving Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA), and EEC will publish a public list of programs that accept CCFA to improve transparency and access for families.
“Massachusetts made the intentional decision to invest in our children, families, educators and local child care businesses by investing in C3 when the federal pandemic era funding ended. This investment has paid off three-fold. Providers have shared that C3 helped them increase pay for educators and hire new staff, delay tuition increases for families, purchase nutritious food and provide meals, and so much more,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Thank you to everyone who participated in a listening session or provided written feedback – your insights are helping us continue C3 as the game changer it has been shown to be.”
“C3 has proven to be one of the most impactful tools we’ve ever had to stabilize and strengthen the early education and care sector,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “The Board vote, informed by thoughtful feedback, ensures that C3 will continue to deliver benefits to children, families, educators, and the Commonwealth’s economy with a focus on our highest need communities.”
“Today’s vote reflects the Board’s commitment to supporting a strong, stable, and equitable early education and care system in Massachusetts,” said Early Education and Care Board Chair Paul Belsito. “The C3 program continues to be a critical tool in helping providers sustain operations, invest in their workforce and keep high-quality early education and care assessable and affordable for families.”
The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) held a public comment period on the C3 formula from August 13, 2025 to September 12, 2025, receiving more than 200 submissions. EEC also hosted a public hearing on September 8, 2025 with broad participation from educators, providers, community partners and families. People shared feedback on the impact C3 has had, as well as areas for improvement in the C3 program.
“C3 grants are a lifeline for early education and care providers — and by extension, for our families and children,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate was proud to lead the charge to make Massachusetts the only state in the nation to continue these grants at the same funding level after the federal government stopped funding them, and I’m pleased to see the Healey-Driscoll Administration take this important step forward in finalizing this formula.”
“Massachusetts remains deeply committed to strengthening and expanding access to child care,” said Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “The Legislature and the Administration have worked together to maintain C3 funding, and today’s board decision reinforces that shared commitment.”
Here is a sampling of the feedback EEC has received from public comment:
“The C3 grant has had a tremendously positive impact on our organization, allowing us to significantly raise educator and program leadership compensation, decrease educator to student ratios, and build an even stronger infrastructure of quality initiatives, heavily focused on educator support.” - Donna Denette, child care provider
“Over the past three years, C3 has been essential in helping my program survive through challenging times. Without it, I would not have been able to continue providing high-quality care for the families I serve.” - Aihua Jiang, child care provider