Alice Peisch

Yesterday was METCO Advocacy Day at the Statehouse and it was great to meet students and staff from the METCO programs in all three towns in my district. As always, this event is an excellent opportunity to hear from these students about their experiences and how we can continue to meet their needs in our schools.

Last week, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Department of Fire Services announced Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Awards for local fire departments. The awards for the Fire Departments in the 14th Norfolk District can be found in the attached graphic. Thank you to our local fire departments for all the work they do everyday to keep our communities safe.

I had the opportunity to attend MADCA’s Early Education Advocacy Day at the Statehouse this morning to discuss the importance of the benefits of continued investments in early education and impact that has had in making advancements to our early education and care providers in the Commonwealth.

Research consistently shows that the experiences children have in these early years directly influence their cognitive growth, social-emotional development, and long-term educational outcomes. These providers are not only supporting children, but also supporting families, strengthening the workforce, and helping to build a better Commonwealth. This work is foundational not just to each individual child’s success, but to our collective economic stability and growth.

Massachusetts now invests more than $1.7 billion annually in the Department of Early Education and Care and stands alone the only state to continue prioritizing C3 funding within our own state budget. After federal relief funds ended, the Legislature sustained funding for the C3 Grant program, investing more than $1.4 billion in state dollars since FY24 to support vital early education and care programming, an investment that helps recruit and retain educators by supporting more livable and competitive wages.

Just yesterday, the House included $38.7 million in Fair Share funding for early education and care in the supplemental budget we passed. I am grateful to my colleagues and Leadership in the House, including Speaker Mariano and Chairman Michlewitz, for their continued support for these invaluable services.