On January 22nd, the Healey-Driscoll administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal, which included notable spending increases in health care, education, and transportation. The $62.07 billion spending plan is a $4.3 billion (7.4...

On January 22nd, the Healey-Driscoll administration filed its budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The $62.07 billion plan increases spending over the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) by $4.3 billion (7.4 percent) and over the...

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...

This November, voters in Massachusetts may be asked to approve or reject a number of proposals that either create new or amend existing state laws. These proposals, known as initiative petitions, are currently under consideration by the State...

MTF’s latest chartbook, The Importance of Commonwealth Cares for Children, provides a comprehensive overview of this critical new childcare program, including:A history of the program and its purpose;An overview of funding history;A breakdown of how...

On March 7th, Senate Bill 2697, An Act ensuring affordability, readiness and learning for our youth and driving economic development was released from the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. Senators have until Monday, March 11th to review the...

Massachusetts is experiencing a dual workforce challenge – a shrinking labor force and a lack of diversity in key sectors. Increased mobility due to the availability of remote work, high costs, and troubling demographic trends create challenges for...

As states across the country, including Massachusetts, are facing workforce shortages, employers are struggling to hire the talent they need to succeed and remain competitive in the marketplace. While there are many reasons behind the shortages, a...

In the last two years, MTF has deepened its engagement in child care policy due to the essential role it plays in creating economic opportunity across the state. Without it, parents cannot enter and remain in the workforce and employers cannot...

Over the last two years, the child care industry has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Child care closures, labor shortages, and changing workforce patterns have upended a system that was already in crisis due to high costs and...