Massachusetts
Working families in Massachusetts need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Massachusetts. But too many working families in Massachusetts are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Massachusetts economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
In the state, 73% of children have all available parents participating in the workforce, while the average cost of care is $26,343 a year (or $2,195 per month).
More than 13,500 children ages 5 and under have child care costs subsidized through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), or 12% of those eligible. The average copay with a CCDBG subsidy is $284 a month.
11.5K children receive care, learning, nutrition, and other services at no cost through Early Head Start/Head Start (or 12% of those eligible for Early Head Start and 34% of those eligible for Head Start).
And 143.1K working families have the cost of their child care offset through the Child + Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).
However, many working parents still struggle to access affordable, quality child care, which costs the state’s economy an estimated $4.6 billion each year in lost earnings and productivity.
Massachusetts: In The Headlines
Report highlights persistent challenges in early child care workforce
Commonwealth Beacon | September 16, 2025
Low wages, limited benefits, and high turnover means Massachusetts is losing nearly $3 billion annually due to inadequate child care, according to a new report.
Study Shows Childcare Out of Reach for Most Families
This Week in Worcester | January 28, 2026
To spend seven percent of income on childcare, a family in Massachusetts must have an income of $671,600.
In Massachusetts, child care costs are out of reach for most working parents
Boston Globe | February 20, 2026
New research underscores how stressful the situation is here in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Resources & News
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Democratic Quotes of Support for Head Start
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2024 CCDBG State Fact Sheets
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FFYF Analysis of 2024 State of the State Addresses
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New GAO Report Highlights IDEA Early Intervention Programs
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FFYF’S 2023 State Fact Sheets
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New 50 State Analysis Shows Impact of Federal Child Care Program
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FFYF’s 2022 Child Care & Early Learning State Fact Sheets
Our analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. shows that the existing patchwork of federal and state early learning and care programs only reaches a fraction of income-eligible families. Federal …
Massachusetts — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities
High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …
Learn About the Positive Impact of MIECHV in Your State
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2021 State Fact Sheets: Examining the Impact and Unmet Need of Federal & State ECE Funding
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Massachusetts — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities
High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …
FFYF Releases State Fact Sheets, Highlighting Unique Local Landscapes
This summer, FFYF released updated state fact sheets, which draw on numerous data sources to offer details about the early childhood opportunities in each state made possible through federal and state …
Congresswoman Katherine Clark introduces bill to revitalize child care industry
Last week, Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA) introduced the ‘Child Care is Infrastructure Act’ to reinvigorate the child care industry which has been devastated by the economic downturn caused by the …
Massachusetts: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities
High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …
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See How All 50 States Use CCDBG Funding to Support Working Families Access Quality Child Care
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Massachusetts: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities
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