Early Education and Child Care Inter-Agency Task Force

Why This Matters

The Inter-Agency Early Education and Child Care Task Force was established by Governor Healey’s Executive Order 625to ensure that Massachusetts leads the nation in early education and child care access, affordability, equity, and quality. By aligning the work of multiple state agencies with a shared agenda, the Task Force addresses complex, interconnected challenges that no single agency could solve alone. Its whole-of-government approach aims to strengthen the system for families, providers, educators, and the economy.

How We’re Driving Change

MA ECFC is supporting the Task Force’s cross-agency work by funding dedicated consulting capacity, helping surface resources, ideas, and partnerships, and leveraging our networks to advance shared solutions. The Task Force is co-chaired by the Secretaries of Education, Economic Development, and Labor and Workforce Development, with participation from all state secretariats. Together, they are engaging key stakeholders across the Commonwealth to inform actionable recommendations and support coordinated implementation.

Timeline and Scale

The three-year Task Force was launched in early 2024 following Executive Order 625. It held 14 virtual and in-person listening sessions in summer 2024 to gather input from families, providers, and community partners across the state. The Year One Report with recommendations was released in March 2025. The work continues with focused implementation across all state agencies and annual reporting to the Governor.

What Happened

Over the first year, the Task Force developed nearly 30 recommendations to strengthen early education and child care across five priority areas: 

• Expanding access and availability,
• Supporting high-quality programs,
• Making care more affordable,
• Fostering sustainable business conditions, and
• Building a robust workforce ecosystem
  
  

These recommendations reflect stakeholder insights, research, and cross-secretariat collaboration. State leaders are moving from planning to implementation, having assigned agency leads and project managers to turn recommendations into action and inform future reports and policy decisions.

Resources and Key Documents

Healey-Driscoll Administration's Early Education and Child Care Task Force (Mass.gov)

Year One Report press release (Mass.gov)

Members of the Task Force (Mass.gov)

Executive Order 625, "Establishing an Inter-Agency Task Force on Ensuring Affordable, High-Quality Child Care" (Mass.gov)

Current Status and What’s Next

Status: Ongoing
The Task Force continues to serve as a space for coordination and learning. Partners are focused on deepening collaboration and translating shared insights into practical improvements across the early education and care system.