Press Release  New Data Show Sustained Gains in Massachusetts Child Care Stability and Capacity

Boston — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today released new data about the impact of the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) program that highlights continued growth and overall stability across Massachusetts’ early education and care sector. Data show that the number of licensed early education and care programs continues to grow statewide. C3 supported more than 8,000 programs in Massachusetts this fiscal year, helping programs employ more than 42,000 educators and maintain affordability for families. With support from the C3 program, the state added more than 7,500 center-based and family child care seats for children last year, further expanding beyond pre-pandemic licensed capacity. Overall, the system has grown by more than 22,000 seats since before the pandemic.

“Because of our investments in child care, more Massachusetts children are getting a high-quality early education, more parents can go back to work, and more hardworking educators have good jobs,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These results show why it was so important that we are the only state in the nation to preserve the C3 program’s full funding and make it permanent, and we’re going to continue working to make child care more affordable for every family.”

“These results reflect what Governor Healey and I hear from providers and families across the state: sustained, predictable funding makes a real difference,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “C3 has helped programs grow, retain educators, and hold down costs for families, all while strengthening local economies. This stability is critical as we continue to rebuild and expand the child care sector beyond the pandemic.”

The updates were shared at the Board of Early Education and Care’s January meeting and included key fiscal year 2026 (FY26) program and application updates. Last October, the Board approved the current C3 funding formula following a robust public comment period with broad participation from educators, providers, community partners and families. The formula determines the level of state C3 funding that early education and care programs receive to support day-to-day operational costs, including staff compensation — helping programs recruit and retain educators while limiting increased costs for families.

Over 86% of licensed and funded early education and care programs completed the surveys conducted by EEC in May and September 2025. The main findings include:

• Overall, center-based programs spent almost 80% of C3 funds on workforce-related investments in FY25, including payroll and benefits as well as compensation increases.
  • Educator compensation continues to grow, increasing more than 20% since the start of the grant, supporting workforce stability amid rising inflation.
  • The annual rate at which educators are leaving their roles has decreased meaningfully, with 28% of center-based teachers leaving their roles between 2021-22, compared to 20% in 2024-25.
• More than 75% of programs report that C3 funding has positively impacted affordability for families in their programs, including almost half of centers reporting delaying planned tuition increases as a result of C3.
• In addition, the majority of programs receiving C3 continue to report providing financial support to families beyond the state’s Child Care Financial Assistance programs, including almost three-quarters of center-based providers offering reduced tuition for educators and staff.

The data shows that C3 effectively helped to stabilize the child care system and continues to support system-wide growth through investments in workforce, quality, and affordability. The survey findings also highlight where more work is still needed: while educator wages have continued to rise, they remain low, which influences recruitment and retention and can disrupt crucial educator-child relationships.

“As a former educator, I know firsthand that high-quality education depends on a stable, well-supported workforce,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “The C3 data show real progress in early education and care: compensation is higher, turnover is lower, and capacity has increased across the system. These investments are essential to making sure children have consistent, nurturing learning environments, and that educators receive the support they need to succeed in this work.”

“The C3 program has been a game changer in stabilizing the early education and care system in Massachusetts and helping programs focus resources where they matter most — on educators, quality, and affordability,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “These findings demonstrate that sustained public investment is driving growth, reducing staff turnover, and contributing directly to better economic outcomes for families and the Commonwealth.”

“The data clearly show that the C3 is stabilizing and strengthening Massachusetts’ early education and care system,” said Paul Belsito, Chair of the Board of the Department of Early Education and Care. “Sustained funding has helped programs retain educators, expand capacity, and support families, while giving providers the stability they need to plan ahead. The Board is proud to support a model that puts workforce, quality, and affordability at the center of our child care system.”

In Massachusetts, the C3 program was initially established to distribute federal child care stabilization funds through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. As federal funding began to sunset, Governor Healey, with support from the Legislature, preserved the program’s full funding and signed a final fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget that codified C3 in state law. The FY2026 budget sustained this commitment, maintaining C3 funding at $475 million.

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