Press Release  Quincy Education Leaders Spotlight Preschool Expansion Through Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative

QUINCY — During the March meeting of the Board of Early Education and Care, the Healey-Driscoll Administration welcomed leaders from Quincy Public Schools and community-based early education programs who celebrated the city’s progress in expanding access to high-quality preschool through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CCPI). The panel complemented a presentation about CPPI, a key component of Governor Maura Healey’s “Gateway to Pre-K” agenda that supports local partnerships to expand affordable access to high-quality preschool opportunities.

“Quincy is leading the way in showing what’s possible when communities come together with a shared commitment to ensuring every young learner has the experiences they need to successfully transition to kindergarten,” said Acting Education Secretary and Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “By embracing the mixed-delivery system, Quincy has been able to expand access to high-quality preschool for young learners while centering the experience and choices of their families.”

“Through this grant, Quincy Public Schools has strengthened and enhanced our commitment to expanding high-quality early childhood opportunities for families across Quincy,” said Quincy Public Schools Superintendent Kevin W. Mulvey, J.D. “This funding has supported a thriving partnership with community-based providers, allowing us to deepen our collaboration, align curriculum and professional learning, and ensure that more of our youngest learners enter kindergarten ready to grow and succeed. We are grateful to the Department of Early Education and Care for their partnership and investment in building a cohesive, equitable preschool system that supports children, families, and educators throughout our city."

“Today’s panel from Quincy highlights the power of collaboration in expanding high-quality early learning opportunities,” said Paul Belsito, Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care. “The Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative brings school districts and community-based providers together to plan, align, and grow preschool opportunities for families. It’s encouraging to see how partnerships like the one in Quincy are strengthening local early learning systems and expanding access to high-quality pre-K.”

CPPI is the state’s primary strategy for expanding access to high-quality, universally available preschool for children and families across Massachusetts’ mixed-delivery early education system. Through targeted, community-based funding, CPPI fosters partnerships between public school districts and community-based early education providers to broaden preschool access and strengthen local early learning systems.

In addition to increasing the availability of low- or no-cost preschool, CPPI helps improve program quality by supporting curriculum alignment across settings and reducing barriers to special education services for young learners. The initiative currently supports 30 communities, including 19 of the Commonwealth’s 26 Gateway Cities, and serves 3,249 children through 103 providers. Of those children, 83 percent are enrolled in center-based or family child care programs.

Quincy was one of the first cities in the CPPI early implementation stage to designate a full-time itinerant service team member to provide special education services to children in inclusive community-based settings. This gave Quincy the infrastructure needed to work toward one of CPPI's core priorities, ensuring equitable access to high quality preschool, regardless of setting. This included a streamlined services screening process and a district partnership with the South Shore Autism Center to provide specialized services where needed. The grant has strengthened the kindergarten transition process, including through hosting kindergarten information nights to guide families through registration and screening.

“We have seen firsthand how strong partnerships transform communities,” said Quincy Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Erin J. Perkins, Ph.D. “Families feel more connected, more informed, and more confident knowing that their child's preschool experience is supported by a unified team. Our community partners feel valued as true collaborators in preparing children for kindergarten. This work has strengthened not only services for children, but also the relationships that sustain them, creating a more cohesive early childhood system that reflects our shared commitment to every child and every family.”

“The partnership between the South Shore YMCA State Street Early Learning Center and Quincy Public Schools through the CCPI Partnership represents what is possible when community organizations and public schools align around a shared commitment to children and families,” said Sonya Nesbitt, Early Learning Center Director at South Shore YMCA. “By working together, we are expanding access to high-quality early education, strengthening school readiness, and ensuring that every child has the support they need to thrive. The State Street Early Learning Center is proud to stand alongside Quincy Public Schools (CCPI Partnership) building a stronger foundation for our youngest learners and providing educators with the additional support they may need.”

“Campus Kinder Haus' partnership with Quincy Public Schools through the CPPI grant has significantly enhanced our capacity to support children with diverse learning needs,” said Nicole Caldwell, Director of Campus Kinder Haus. “Through this collaboration, the CPPI team has helped support meaningful student experiences and more successful transitions from early childhood education into the public school system. Families benefit from clearer communication and increased access to resources, while teachers gain opportunities for professional collaboration, shared strategies, and aligned practices that strengthen their ability to promote student growth and development.”

“QCAP Head Start provides a unique and comprehensive foundation for young children and their families, supporting healthy development and long-term school success,” said Keather Reichel, Program Director at QCAP Head Start. “Our long-standing partnership with Quincy Public Schools ensures that children receive the services and support they need as early as possible. With the support of initiatives like CPPI, this collaboration has grown even stronger, allowing more children to access services within their learning environment and helping families feel connected and supported from the very beginning.”

Governor Healey’s FY27 budget proposalfunds CPPI at $32 million, an $11.5 million increase over current program funding. This additional funding would allow CPPI to reach the remaining seven Gateway Cities not currently funded, as well as enabling 12 current grantees to move to full implementation. In total, funding would be available for 37 districts to continue efforts to create systemic alignment and coordination, strategic expansion, and efficient investments to make on-the-ground progress towards the goal of universal access to pre-K.

For more information about the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative, visit Mass.gov/CPPI.

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