Board of Early Education and Care Gives Initial Approval to Regulation Changes That Will Make Child Care Easier for Families to Access
BOSTON — The Board of Early Education and Care today voted unanimously to give initial approval to a package of regulation changes that will improve the way low-income families access child care, aimed at making it easier for families to receive childcare financial assistance and enable more children to participate in high-quality early education programs.
Currently more than 50,000 children and their families are served through the Department of Early Education and Care’s child care financial assistance programs. More than 4,000 programs, or just over half of the state’s licensed childcare programs, accept children with a state childcare subsidy.
The proposed regulation changes will better meet the needs of Massachusetts’ working families by eliminating existing barriers and challenges that families face when applying for assistance by simplifying the application process. The proposed changes are also intended to make the process easier for childcare providers, in order to recruit additional providers to serve children and families who receive a state child care subsidy.
Some of the regulation changes would:
Reduce or eliminate unnecessary and duplicative documentation and reporting requirements that create an undue burden for parents receiving assistance.
Update employment definitions and requirements to reflect the changing nature of work, including more flexibility for hourly wage earners and those working from home.
Waive fees for homeless families and promote easier access for parents with disabilities.
Expand the hours a family is eligible for care to better support working families.
Eliminate requirements for in-person meetings and appointments allowing services to be available remotely.
“These proposed regulation changes will increase the overall efficiency of the childcare financial assistance system, and modernize the way we work with families,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “These changes will simplify the process and make it easier for parents to access care for their children.”
The regulations changes would also allow childcare subsidies for eligible families during certain circumstances, such as families encountering domestic violence, in need of substance abuse treatment programs, or parents taking maternity leave. In addition, child care will continue to be provided for a transition period to families that have ended Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) benefits, and as families exit involvement with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
“Child care is not only an essential support for our working families, but helps prepare their children for school and life success,” said Acting Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “These proposed changes are a foundational step in the agency’s work to put families at the center of our work by simplifying a complicated process, modernizing ways to do business with the agency and bringing greater dignity to the family experience.”
Following the Board’s approval, the regulations will be available for public comment for 60 days. The Board is expected to vote on final regulations in March 2023.
“These regulations represent an important step towards achieving the Board’s overall vision of a system that is equitable, accessible, and supportive of all families and childcare providers,” said Board of Early Education and Care Chair Nonie Lesaux. “Innovative changes like these will ensure that more families can receive the kind of high-quality care they need and deserve and that childcare providers can dedicate more time to the critical work of engaging directly with the families and children they serve.”
Tuesday’s board meeting was the final board meeting for Chair Lesaux, who announced last month she was stepping down.
The Department of Early Education and Care‘s mission is to support the healthy growth and development of all children by providing high-quality programs and resources for families and communities. Our vision is that children, youth, and families reach their full potential now and in the future.