Department of Early Education and Care visits western Mass. to spotlight innovative preschool programs
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The Department of Early Education and Care made its second stop on its Universal Pre-K Access Road Show in Northampton to spotlight innovative preschool programs in the state.
The Head Start Early Learning Program is just one of many to receive funding from the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI). It helps provide families access to affordable preschool programs, like those at Head Start, to close the learning gap for all children before entering kindergarten.
Northampton received $1 million from the CPPI to enable the city to increase pre-K seats through both public schools and community-based providers. 'By bringing the community partners together, we can make sure that families can make the choices they want while making sure that their kids are getting the educational services that they need,' said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.
According to a news release sent to 22News, Northampton partnerships include a collaboration of 11 diverse EEC-licensed partners, representing 18 CPPI-funded classrooms, including at Leeds Elementary School. The CPPI grant provides access to quality instruction to 227 children in the community. 'This visit is about listening, learning, and building on what works so that we can bring high-quality Pre-K to every corner of the Commonwealth,' added Kershaw.
The Department of Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw joined local leaders, educators, and families to tour the Head Start Early Learning Program and visit a CPPI classroom. They got to see firsthand how they're using some of the funds for their preschool. It is helping Head Start provide their children with additional resources like special education services, instructional coaches, and speech pathologists.
'Children who may have a special need or do not have to leave in the afternoon to get their special education services somewhere else, they receive them right here,' said Pioneer Valley Head Start & Early Learning Programs Director, Anat Weisenfreund.
Northampton Public Schools is using some of its staff to support and supervise these types of services. 'We're tracking the data now that children are developing closer to their same-age peers when they have a disability and at a bit quicker rate. We are seeing that working with special education teams and coaches that Northampton, early education and care teachers that their instructional scores are rising,' said Northampton Preschool and Partnership Coordinator, Laura Frogameni.
The funds also reduce tuition costs for families with children looking to enter the overall program. 'We're seeing and we heard from parents how much being a single parent, getting that child care subsidy has essentially shifted their families' possibilities for stability,' continued Frogameni. 'All of this centers the child,d and it centers the educators who work directly with the child. And that's a wonderful recipe for success.'
This initiative not only helps to lower the cost for families but also helps parents stay in or return to the workforce. 'It has that dual purpose. It helps our children prepare for school and create their own path for academic success and later economic success, while immediately supporting their parents on their economic path,' explained Kershaw.
The visit concluded at Smith College, a partner in the city's CPPI program through the school's Center for Early Childhood Education at Fort Hill, for a round table discussion with Northampton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Portia Bonner, local educators, administrators, and early childhood program leaders. 'Governor Healey and Commissioner Kershaw, through the CPPI grants, have created partnerships that support children and their families as they navigate the first five years of the child's life,' said Clare Higgins, Executive Director at Community Action Pioneer Valley. 'Because of their ongoing support, Northampton has created a true partnership with parents and providers that is a model for others to emulate.'
'Head Start is an essential component of Massachusetts' early education mixed delivery system, providing high-quality early education and wraparound services for the most vulnerable families,' said Michelle Haimowitz, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Head Start Association. 'We are proud to stand in partnership with Commissioner Kershaw and the Healey-Driscoll Administration to celebrate CPPI and partnerships between early education and our public school partners.'
Northampton is among the 30 districts receiving funding through CPPI. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is investing more than $20 million across Massachusetts to expand access to preschool.
Governor Healey's FY26 budget and related Fair Share supplemental budget funds this initiative. Additional funding is expected to expand access to pre-schools in 37 districts during the next 3 years. The expansion would allow CPPI to reach the remaining 7 Gateway Cities not currently funded, as well as enable 12 current grantees move to full implementation.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Should Massachusetts keep religious exemptions to vaccine mandates?
BOSTON (WWLP) – Passionate testimony rang out in the State House on Friday from parents, children, and physicians on both sides of the vaccine mandates for school children debate. The State House's public health committee heard testimony on multiple vaccine bills, including an extremely contentious piece of legislation that would eliminate religious exemptions to vaccine mandates in schools. Proponents of this bill see it as a way to close a loophole and keep kids safe in schools. Will you be able to get a COVID-19 shot? Here's what we know so far One doctor told 22News that she wants to work with families to ensure they feel comfortable with vaccines, while still pushing to ensure all children are protected. 'We know that children need a cocoon of immunity around them, whether they're infants, or in kindergarten, or in sixth grade,' said Dr. Mary Beth Miotto, a pediatrician. For every enthusiastic advocate for getting rid of the religious exemption, there was an equally passionate advocate to keep it. These parents and doctors testified that disallowing parents from choosing to exempt their children from vaccination is a violation of their freedoms, and only serves to keep deserving children out of school. 'Public health policy should support and empower, not harm and humiliate,' said Dr. Sylvia Fogle, a psychiatrist. Those speaking against the bills say the total harm of their passage would far outweigh their speculative benefit. Those who testified pro-vaccine say that claim is based on misinformation. The conversation around vaccine exemptions is especially relevant as the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services has voiced consistent support for getting rid of mandates. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Ticks becoming more active as weather heats up
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The weather is getting warmer and the bugs are really coming out. Over the years, the tick population has increased dramatically and it's important to protect yourself from them. As the weather gets warmer, more and more of us are spending time outside. Ticks tend to be very active this time of year, and they can carry dangerous and even deadly diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Powassan. So it's important to avoid areas where they could be. Mosquito activity: Effective ways to prevent bites 'Keeping your yard mowed, keeping things from becoming overgrown, and just avoiding those areas. If you're hiking, sticking to the middle of the trail. Don't veer off to where the vegetation is tall because that's where the ticks are hiding,' said Natasha Wright of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. If you're going into a wooded area, you should wear pants and long sleeves and light colors so you can more easily spot any ticks that may be on you. You should also use tweezers to remove it and not squash the tick, because that could help spread disease if the tick has it WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Cooley Dickinson Hospital's remodel boosts ER capacity by 40%
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Renovations are almost complete at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. In just a matter of weeks, patients will be treated in a remodeled and new facility. Northampton Concert Series announced for 2025 On Thursday, the hospital welcomed local leaders and donors to tour a new addition to the emergency department. The renovations are set to better serve the community. Dr. Sunny Shukla, Associate Chief Medical Officer, told 22News, 'We have a CT scanner embedded into our ER instead of having to take a few-minute walk over to the CT scanner; there's one in the actual ED. We have trauma-based based here, we have a resuscitation room, and a lot of privacy for patients now.' The emergency department will increase by 40%, creating shorter wait times, increasing patient privacy, enhancing behavioral health care, and even improving the coordination of care in the ER. Patients will be treated at the new addition as early as July. The full emergency department remodel is set to be completed by next February. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
