The Build Initiative states, “There is ample evidence that developing an early childhood system that strives to meet the needs of all children requires explicit attention to a number of current gaps that exist – by income, race/ethnicity, language, and culture – both in child outcomes and opportunities and system capacity and response” 

The Department of Early Education and Care’s Five Year Strategic Plan states, “It has become increasingly clear in Massachusetts and across the nation that early care and education is a critical element of workforce infrastructure. Before the pandemic, some 83% of parents of children under five across the nation reported that finding affordable childcare was a serious problem. After the pandemic, as of June 2020, some 13% of working parents reported having to quit their jobs or cut back their hours to take care of their children and they reported losing an average of a full day of work per week to childcare… Despite impressive total investments, the early education and care system is fragile and in need of urgent intervention. Providers struggle to sustain their business model against rising operational and personnel costs, challenges recruiting and maintaining a qualified workforce, and difficulties meeting the complexities of family needs. These, among other factors, have strained program stability, sometimes past its breaking point. In the last fiscal year, there were 755 licensed providers that closed in the state” (https://www.mass.gov/doc/eec-strategic-action-plan/download

The Chamber of Commerce reports the following studies about the return on investments in early learning in the community and society:

•" Research shows that investments in high-quality programs for disadvantaged children deliver a 13% annual return to their communities measured through better education, health, social, and economic outcomes.

• The return on investment for early childhood programs is also shown to be significantly higher than “down the talent pipeline” investments like post-school job training, which can be prohibitively expensive.

• The Perry Preschool Study, which spanned 40 years, shows that for every $1 spent on early childhood education, society gains as much as $16 in long-term savings.

• In Louisiana alone, a study estimated that the cost of inadequate or unavailable childcare totaled $2 billion in 2016 due to employee absence and turnover, lost workplace productivity, and other effects.

— And in Washington, a 2019 report estimates that the direct costs from turnover and missed work due to childcare issues is $2.08 billion.

— Similarly, a 2019 study in Tennessee showed that the state loses $1.34 billion annually in lost earnings and revenue" (US Chamber of Commerce Foundation).

The time is now for our elected officials and the business community to join forces and find a way to double its investments in child care to advance Equity in Early Childhood Education in Massachusetts. By doubling the state budget, the state acknowledges that child care is a public good and a necessary infrastructure for a healthy economy. It will be able to increase access to free and/or affordable child care, pay child care teachers commensurate with the K-12 education system, promote the professional development and advancement of its workforce, especially women of color to leadership positions, and enhance the quality of child care services.