An Act relative to quality funding for early childhood education and care programs

This bill establishes a new funding mechanism called "Foundation Awards" to provide extra money to early childhood education and care providers in Massachusetts that serve low-income and at-risk children. The additional funds are specifically designated for paying educators better wages, obtaining professional credentials, and improving overall program quality and sustainability. A state board will be responsible for setting these payment rates and conducting regular regional meetings with providers to determine costs based on market data and inflation. The legislation also clarifies that the state must contribute a share of funding that matches federal contributions to support these programs. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2024.