We will be posting up-to-date information here regarding news releases or training information. This page will be changing frequently so please check back often to keep current on "in the news!"
The MA Babies Coalition is a collective of community partners, lived experience professionals, policymakers, and advocates centering the mental health and wellbeing and early relational health of babies and families in the context of culture and community.
Classrooms across the city on worked with volunteer architects to come up with their designs for a fair, fun, and safe Boston. The 30 final projects were put on display for the public to see and to encourage everyone to see the Hub just a little bit differently.
Register for the conference by clicking on the button below!
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
Location: BMC Durfee High School, 460 Elsbree Street, Fall River MA
Watch how CPPI, DESE, and EEC are supporting 14 community teams to plan for how to support preschool children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to receive their early childhood special education services in community-based settings (child care, Head Start, family childcare).
There was joy, professional community building, and a lot of policy insights earlier this year at the 2026 NAEYC Policy Forum. According to NAEYC’s website, the Policy Forum was “a multi-day advocacy experience designed to help early childhood educators exercise their powerful policy voices and make themselves heard—at every level.” There were workshops, keynote speeches, panels, and opportunities to talk to policymakers on Capitol Hill.
Marisol Garcia brings more than 30 years of experience advocating for children and families, including more than two decades representing children in court and a decade of executive leadership advancing child welfare and behavioral health policy. She will begin her five-year term on June 1, succeeding Maria Mossaides, who is retiring at the end of May after more than a decade of service.
The guidance is intended to help organizations across Massachusetts protect access to essential services understand their rights and responsibilities and prepare staff to respond appropriately if federal immigration officers arrive on site.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join the meeting by clicking the button below!
May 7, 2026
The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the launch of MyChildCareMA, a modern, mobile-friendly and multilingual family portal for the state’s Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) programs. Families can now apply for child care financial assistance, track application progress, and manage their cases through a single, streamlined platform.
The Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Scholarship is financial assistance towards a college certificate or degree at an eligible college/university in Massachusetts. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Department of Higher Education (DHE) jointly offer this scholarship to help early educators increase their qualifications through a college degree.
Click below to see what the Early Education and Child Care Task Force has in store for year 3!
Problem-solving has been identified as a critical 21st-century skill. This review integrated evidence on the effectiveness of existing approaches to teaching and assessing problem-solving in an interpersonal context (IPS) for children from birth to age six, in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. To read more, click below.
EEC is creating a new portal for educators to apply for and manage their professional certifications, designed and tested with input from early childhood educators.
Educators can now apply more easily, and supervisors can verify work experience using a new online process.
The MA Department of Early Education and Care is working on their 2026 Strategic Action Plan. Read more about this plan that is currently in the works.
Click below to view the schedule for EEC's monthly Board meetings.
The Early Childhood Education Career Training Program provides entry-level training and job experience for people interested in starting a career as early childhood educators.
Participants enroll in an online early childhood education course and complete a paid internship in Cambridge, MA. People who successfully complete all the program requirements will earn the Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential and be an EEC (Early Education and Care) certified teacher in Massachusetts.
As educators, being aware of policy and budget decisions can help you advocate effectively. Your awareness and input matter!
Watch for upcoming budget votes and consider sharing your perspective with local policymakers or through EEC channels.
Click below to read more about FY26 and updates on EEC's Strategic Action Plan.
The Department of Early Education and Care's Categories of Study are the topic areas included in the educational requirements for educators and staff working in early childhood or out of school time settings.
Click below to read more about these new EEC topic areas.
June 6, 2026
Every year, the president submits a budget request to Congress, laying out spending and policy priorities for the next fiscal year. The president’s budget is just a set of recommendations; however it does offer important insights into the administration's priorities and seeks to influence Congress’s decision-making. As such, it’s important for advocates to understand what the president’s budget proposes and what the implications of those proposals would be if signed into law.
June 1, 2026
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced that as a result of the fiscal year 2027 state budget bill that he signed into law last week, his administration is making an additional investment of approximately $320 million into Connecticut’s recently established Early Childhood Education Endowment. Click below to find out more about this announcement.
May 29, 2026
Click below to view the latest updates in early childhood education!
May 26, 2026
Read about how more governors are recognizing how important early education and care is in their state.
Federal child care policy activity continues to move quickly in Congress and across federal agencies. Below is a snapshot of major developments impacting family child care (FCC) educators, children, and families, along with updates on legislation aligned with the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Policy Priorities.
The State Bond Commission of Connecticut approved a series of investments May 29 aimed at strengthening key issues for employers and the state’s economic competitiveness. The commission’s meeting included funding for early childhood education infrastructure, a new graduate student loan program, and technology upgrades designed to improve access to state services.
The Institute for Education and Professional Development, Inc.
298 N. Main St., PO Box 366, N. Uxbridge, MA 01538