Healey-Driscoll Administration Kicks Off Early Education and Care Data Advisory Commission

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Kicks Off Early Education and Care Data Advisory Commission

BOSTON — This month, the Healey-Driscoll Administration launched the Data Advisory Commission on Early Education and Care. Established in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget signed by Governor Maura Healey, the Commission is charged with making recommendations to improve the use of state, provider and program-level data related to the cost, quality and utilization of early education and care services. This includes a focus on the needs and capabilities of providers located in rural areas.​ Further, the Commission will be analyzing high-impact, cost-effective data strategies for assessing the needs of families and children.

 

“I want families in every part of our state to be able to afford high-quality child care, and at the hours and locations that make sense for them. We know that too many kids are on waitlists for a seat, and it is hard to find care. The Data Advisory Commission is going to help us determine where the gaps are in access and affordability, and I look forward to seeing their recommendations,” said Governor Maura Healey.

 

“Accessible and affordable child care is a priority for our administration. The state’s early education system has made significant improvements over the last two years, but we know more work needs to be done to lower costs for families and support child care businesses to be financially stable,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This Commission is bringing a variety of perspectives and experiences together to dive into the data to help inform ways we can continue to build on this progress.”

 

This new Commission builds on the significant progress the agency has made to strengthen the data and research infrastructure and capacity at EEC. Over the last two years, EEC has built the agency’s first data and research division focused on collecting and analyzing data and leading research to inform policy decisions and improve programs and services. In October 2024, EEC launched key performance indicator (KPI) Dashboards on its website, as well as the agency’s first research agenda and additional public-facing data sets and tools.

 

“We know that improving access to early education and care for all families in the communities in which they live, learn and work is key to strengthening our economy and creating a more affordable and competitive state. And we know that good data is an important part of that. I look forward to seeing the Commission’s thoughtful, collaborative work and recommendations,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.

 

“Launching the Data Advisory Commission is an important milestone for EEC and our new data analytics and research teams,” said Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care. “We look forward to working in partnership with Commissioner members to continue to build our data infrastructure and capacity, to better understand the child care experience and needs of children and families across the state.”

 

The Commission also aligns with the agency’s commitment to modernizing its user-facing portals through two technology projects that are underway and will modernize and improve data tracking and analysis. This includes the development of a new family portal and case management system for the state’s child care financial assistance programs (CCFA). EEC is working to build a more modern, mobile-friendly, accessible, multilingual, and dignified CCFA technology system, reducing barriers for families seeking assistance paying for child care and making it easier for child care providers to administer the programs. This new system will enhance the availability of data on the CCFA waitlist, application and eligibility determination process, and payments.

 

EEC is also designing and building an early education and care educator portal with an embedded credential management system. The system will create a single front door for current and aspiring educators to apply for and access their professional credentials and will be integrated with EEC’s StrongStart Learning Management System, which will allow for future automatic importing of courses from StrongStart and associating educators with their programs. This new system will improve data available on educator demographics, employment, compensation, professional advancement, and recruitment and retention.

 

“We must use every tool available to expand access to high-quality, affordable early education and child care to support children and young families in Massachusetts,” said State Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “The Legislature established the Data Advisory Commission last year to delve into our state’s early education data, and I look forward to hearing their recommendations on how to continue increasing affordable access to care.”

 

"We are committed to providing accessible, affordable child care,” said State Representative Ken Gordon, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. "This Data Advisory Commission will provide critical insights to help us advance our EEC goals and continue removing barriers for families."

Learn more about EEC’s Data Advisory Commission here.

 

The Data Advisory Commission on Early Education and Care members include*:

• Amy Kershaw, Early Education and Care Commissioner (Chair)
• Mark Reilly, Undersecretary & Chief Operating Officer, Executive Office of Education
• Laura Perille, President and CEO, Nurtury Early Education
• Elizabeth Leiwant, Chief of Policy, Neighborhood Villages
• Emmalie Dropkin, Director of Data, Planning, and Evaluation, Head Start & Early Learning Programs Community Action Pioneer Valley
• Patrick Stanton, Executive Director, Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership
• Adam Jones, Senior Policy Analyst, MassBudget
• Ellen Dickenson, Senior Vice President for Research, Analytics and Planning, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
• JD Chesloff, President and CEO, Massachusetts Business Roundtable
• Tom Weber, Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education
• Kate Warren Barnes, Head of MA Strategy & Partnerships, Jumpstart for Young Children
• Kate Marie Roycroft, CEO, Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs
• Andrea Howard, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
• Victoria Bergeron, Policy Researcher, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation

 

*Please note there are five additional members still going through the appointment process.