An Act to achieve universal pre-kindergarten

This bill establishes the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Commission to study how to expand access to quality pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-old children in Massachusetts. The commission, chaired by the early education commissioner and including education officials and appointed stakeholders (like Head Start representatives and teachers' unions), must submit recommendations by December 31, 2026. These recommendations will cover program models (Head Start, public schools, licensed centers), funding strategies, cost analyses, and integration with existing education funding. The bill also directs unused Convention Center Fund money to the Department of Early Education and Care specifically for expanding pre-K offerings. It does not implement universal pre-K but sets the framework for future policy based on the commission’s findings.