22-05-2025
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.
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