Early Care & Education

July 5, 2023 - Budgets are a reflection of our state values and priorities. The recent bipartisan budget agreement reflects what we know to be true: The Maine child care system needs new investments to better work for children, families, early educators and employers.

June 14, 2023 - Mainers have a long tradition of working together to solve tough problems. Right now, we face a significant, but solvable challenge of an inadequate early care and education (ECE) system. In fact, the problem is that it isn’t a “system” at all but a patchwork of programs of variable quality, affordability, and availability throughout the state. This creates inequities in opportunity both for children’s healthy development and the stability of our workforce. What can we do to support the needs of our modern workforce and ensure Maine has a professional and thriving early care and education system? In the following sections, we briefly describe the current challenges facing both families and providers, strategies to help repair our patchwork of programs throughout the state to create a true early childhood system, and what kinds of investments are required to build and sustain that system.

June 14, 2021  - Mainers have a long tradition of working together to solve tough problems. Right now, we face a significant, but solvable challenge of an inadequate early care and education (ECE) system. In fact, the problem is that it isn’t a “system” at all but a patchwork of programs of variable quality, affordability, and availability throughout the state. In the following sections, we briefly describe the current challenges facing both families and providers, strategies to help repair our patchwork of programs throughout the state to create a true early childhood system, and what kinds of investments are required to build and sustain that system.

July 13, 2020 - We are all eager to provide an improved academic experience for students this fall, and ideally, for a safe return to classroom instruction. As state and local leaders consider the reopening of schools, there are many important factors that should be considered. In addition to the necessary health and safety considerations of students and staff, it is critical to also address social-emotional and mental health, as well as the needs of specific student populations.

March 17, 2020 - MaineAEYC, FCCAM, Maine Children’s Alliance, Maine Head Start Directors Association, and the YMCAs of Maine are committed to the health and wellbeing of young children and all who care for, educate, and work on their behalf. We are writing to request clear guidance from the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) to licensed child care programs regarding emergency funding and policies that can help providers and the families they serve remain financially stable during and after the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

January 30, 2020 - For 25 years, MCA has promoted sound policies and best practices to make sure all Maine children have the resources and opportunity to reach their full potential from birth to adulthood. Our priority issue areas include: Early Care and Education; Health, Safety & Well-being; and Family Economic & Food Security.

October 15, 2019 - For over 40 years, the Maine Women’s Lobby has been an advocate on the issues affecting the lives of Maine women and girls. We work to create a future that is free from violence, free from discrimination, with access to health care, and real economic security.

October 15, 2019 - The Right from the Start Coalition is working to ensure that all Maine children have equal opportunity for healthy development. In short, that means providing early care and education that is accessible and of high quality, from birth to eight, and no matter where families live in our state

October 15, 2019 - The Annie E. Casey Foundation is devoted to developing a brighter future for millions of children at risk of poor educational, economic, social and health outcomes.

October 15, 2019 - ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development.

October 15, 2019 - CLASP is a national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty nonprofit advancing policy solutions for low-income people. We develop practical yet visionary strategies for reducing poverty, promoting economic opportunity, and addressing barriers faced by people of color.

August 14, 2019 - Child care is an essential support for families, allowing parents to work while their children are cared for during this critical period of their development. However, the cost of child care is a significant burden for families—particularly for families with limited financial resources.

September 22, 2017 - Research demonstrates that young children thrive when they have strong relationships with caring, responsive adults and when they are provided age-appropriate, stimulating environments. We also know that 67% of Maine children under the age of six have both parents in the workforce and will require care from birth until they reach public school.

January 26, 2015 - Investing in early childhood education is a fiscally responsible way to reduce deficits and create surpluses, now and in the future.

January 14, 2015 - The demands of living in today’s economy also require us to think in innovative ways about how best to maintain and support Maine’s quality of life.  We simply must provide working families with the resources they need — access to health care, quality education, jobs that pay — that help them support their and their children’s well-being.

April 13, 2013 - In 2011, an estimated 24.2 percent of Maine’s children under age five lived in poverty and were eligible for Head Start. In 2011- 2012, Maine Head Start served an estimated 28% of income eligible children ages birth to five years old. However, the percent of children being served differs by age. Early Head Start served approximately 11% of the income-eligible infants and toddlers, while Head Start enrolled an estimated 48% of three and four year olds living in poverty.

October 1, 2012 - This report highlights data trends whenever possible. Of overarching concern is that Maine has not improved in a large number of school readiness measures, but remained stagnant or declined over the past 10 years.

December 13, 2011 - Head Start provides early care and education, as well as health, nutrition, mental health, social and family support, to low-income families with children from prenatal to five years old.