Press Release: 4/29/2026
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $250,000 in Early Childhood Special Education Grants
Funding supports partnerships between school districts and community-based preschools to improve educational services for youngest students with disabilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
4/28/2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Jacqueline Reis
Phone
Call Jacqueline Reis at 781-338-3115
Online
Email Jacqueline Reis at jreis@doe.mass.edu
EVERETT — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $250,000 in grants awarded to 14 school districts for early childhood special education planning. The funds will support partnerships, professional development, family engagement and financial planning for the delivery of individualized education program (IEP) services in community-based preschool settings.
Improving access to special education services for children in community-based early education settings was one of the key themes from Governor Maura Healey’s Early Education and Child Care Task Force listening sessions. This grant funding directly supports one of the Task Force’s recommendations that the administration explore and identify effective and equitable ways to ensure young children with disabilities are receiving the services for which they qualify.
“Every child deserves access to the services and support they need to learn, grow and succeed—and families shouldn’t have to struggle to access those services based on where their child is enrolled. We’ve heard clearly from parents and providers that delivering special education in community-based preschool settings can be a challenge,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will help schools and community partners work together to meet children where they are, expand access to critical services, and build a more inclusive early education system that supports all of our kids.”
“These grants are about making sure local teams have the tools and support they need to deliver for families,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By strengthening partnerships between school districts and community-based providers, we can bring services directly to where children are already learning and make it easier for families to access the care they need. This is a practical, community-driven approach that will help more young learners get the support they deserve.”
Building Early Childhood Teams: A Preschool Itinerant Team Initiative is administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in collaboration with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). The funding supports district teams that consist of early childhood and special education administrators from public schools, community-based preschool providers, educators, Early Intervention providers, and families. The grant will help recipients plan for a traveling team to deliver IEP services in community preschool settings.
The initiative includes in-person professional development for grant recipients, monthly coaching for the community-based team, and virtual and in-person networking opportunities with teams from communities that have successfully implemented this model.
“Research finds consistently that access to high quality pre-K leads to students needing fewer special education services and entering kindergarten more prepared,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike. “I am excited to see the impact this funding will have, supporting communities to care for young learners across educational settings.”
“These districts will receive family engagement support, professional development, and assistance with establishing strong partnerships within their districts,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “Through effective partnerships, teams will support delivery of IEP services in community-based preschool settings."
“This investment strengthens our commitment to ensuring all young children can access inclusive, high-quality early learning in the settings where they thrive,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “By investing in planning, professional development, and innovative service delivery models like itinerant teams, we are helping build a more responsive early education system that meets the diverse needs of all children and families across Massachusetts.”
The grant program builds on the administration’s Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), a key component of Governor Healey’s “Gateway to Pre-K” agenda that supports local partnerships to expand affordable access to high-quality preschool opportunities. One area of focus for CPPI is equitable access to special education and inclusion. CPPI supports program designs that ensure full inclusion of children with disabilities across all settings, ensuring that children with IEPs have access to required supports without transitions or other barriers.
The grant recipients are:
- Bourne Public Schools: $20,000
- Chelsea Public Schools: $15,014
- Easthampton Public Schools: $20,000
- Everett Public Schools: $20,000
- Fall River Public Schools: $12,000
- Haverhill Public Schools: $15,013
- Lawrence Public Schools: $20,000
- Lowell Public Schools: $19,400
- Lynn Public Schools: $19,400
- Malden Public Schools: $20,000
- North Adams Public Schools: $20,000
- Quincy Public Schools: $19,400
- Taunton Public Schools: $19,400
- Worcester Public Schools: $10,373