State Profiles

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2003		An Act Establishing Early Education for All (H.1838/S.239) is filed for the 2003-04 legislative session with the lead sponsorship of Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry and House Ways and Means Committee Vice Chairman Peter Larkin and the bipartisan support of 109 other legislators, representing 55 percent of the legislature. The legislation was crafted through a two-and-a-half-year community input and solicitation process including over 4,000 people.
2004		Informed in large part by this legislation, in July, the state legislature unanimously passes, and Governor Mitt Romney signs, a law establishing the foundation for a system of high-quality early education and care for all through the creation of an independent board and consolidated Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the first in the nation. To build on this foundation and achieve the long-term vision incorporated in the original EEA legislation, An Act Establishing Early Education for All (H.1175/S.303) is filed for the 2005-06 session with strong bipartisan support. A total of 132 state senators and representatives, representing 66 percent of the legislature, cosponsor the bill, led by Senator Fred Berry, senate majority leader, and Representative Patricia Haddad, house chair of the Joint Committee on Education. The bill lays out the essential elements of a high-quality pre-k program accessible to all and calls for a special commission on full-day kindergarten.
2005		The new Department of Early Education and Care becomes operational on July 1. Among its statutory responsibilities, the department is charged with overseeing the development and implementation of a program of voluntary, high-quality early childhood education accessible to all pre-k-aged children in the commonwealth. On December 14, the Joint Committee on Education votes to favorably report out An Act Relative to Early Education and Care (H.4582), with the EEA legislation attached. H.4582 is a thoughtful, thorough, and visionary plan for the new department. The education committee's bill is informed by current and past EEA legislation and suggested amendments. This bill is consistent with the EEA Campaign goals and legislation, and it replaces H.1175/S.303 as EEA's legislative priority for 2006. $20 million in new funding is secured through the FY06 state budget to strengthen the current foundation as well as to support critical initiatives focused on the professional development of early educators.
2006		The Department of Early Education and Care completes a year-long planning process and institutes a 21-member Advisory Committee and Transition Team. Representatives from EEA serve on both committees. The Department also hires the first Associate Commissioner of Quality and Workforce Development. Both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate unanimously pass An Act Relative to Early Education and Care (H.4755, formerly H.4582). Governor Romney vetoes the bill too late for the Legislature to override his veto by the last formal day of the 2005-2006 legislative session. An Act Relative to Early Education and Care will be re-filed by the Education Committee for the next legislative session. Forty-five million dollars in increased funding is secured in the FY07 state budget for provisions consistent with EEA priorities, including $4.6 million for pilot programs for the Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program.
2007		Although he campaigned extensively on pre-k during, Governor Deval Patrick did not propose any increases for the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program. However, in the summer of 2007, he launched the Education Readiness Project, a P-16 reform effort that includes pre-k for all as a key provision.

The EEA Campaign evolved from a multiyear research and constituency-building project led by Margaret Blood. The project, Our Youngest Children: Massachusetts Voters and Opinion Leaders Speak Out on Their Care and Education, culminated with a clear indication of public support for publicly funded pre-k education in Massachusetts. EEA is Massachusetts' leading early education and care research resource for state policymakers, the media, and other opinion leaders through its ability to package and disseminate relevant research.

EEA has developed and grown a Campaign Advisory Committee (CAC) of both "likely" and "unlikely" allies to influential leaders from diverse sectors. Cochaired by two exceptional business leaders, Paul O'Brien, president of the O'Brien Group and former chairman of the New England Telephone Company, and Mara Aspinall, president of Genzyme Genetics, these powerful messengers have enthusiastically helped to increase opinion leader and voter support for high-quality early education for all. EEA also works with "likely" allies through the development and training of its "field team" of grassroots early educators and parents, organized by state legislative district, to serve as the "face" and "voice" of the campaign in their local communities.

The Campaign also initiates, or participates in, studies to inform policy development. When possible, it plays a catalytic role, connecting philanthropic dollars and other funding sources with research institutions to conduct this work.

The EEA Campaign must take advantage of new gubernatorial leadership and work with the Department of Early Education and Care to ensure that Massachusetts fulfills the promise of "early education for all." Priorities include securing additional public investment in high-quality early education through the annual state budget and continuing to advance its legislative/policy agenda of high-quality early education for all.