July 13, 2024
EDUCATION

BUILDING BLOCKS: Status of Child Care Reform in Massachusetts and What Comes Next

In 2023, MTF released a report which made several recommendations on reforms that should be made to the Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) system to ensure greater system efficiency, family engagement, outcomes for children, and support for providers. CCFA is an integral and complex part of the Commonwealth’s multi-pronged early education and care system, serving over 65,000 children across the state. Funding for early education and care has more than doubled in Massachusetts since the pandemic and the state has made significant progress in implementing many of MTF’s past recommendations since 2023. This report builds on past research to provide an update on where CCFA reform is now and where work should be focused going forward.