EEC Board Recommends Economic Stimulus Funds Be Used For Summer-Only Care
On Tuesday, April 14, 2009, the board of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) approved $2.5 million for "summer-only" care vouchers for eligible families with school-age children. Funds come from the Child Care Development and Block Grant (CCDBG), which will be provided to EEC through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Excerpt from a Memorandum from EEC Commissioner Sherri Killins
• priority will be given to families/children residing in underperforming districts based on Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) district/ school accountability status determinations;
• priority will be given to children whose siblings are already enrolled/receiving child care financial assistance from EEC ; and
• children will be authorized to attend summer-only programs that can demonstrate that they have a specific program component or focus that addresses summer learning loss.
It is important to highlight that these ARRA funded 2009 summer-only vouchers are one time in nature. Implementation plans and finalization of the specific family/provider eligibility criteria are being developed by EEC. Additional information will be forthcoming.
In the meantime, we are asking that you make every effort to place families seeking summer-only care for a school age child and meet EEC’s income eligibility and activity requirements on the EEC centralized waiting list by May 8th. At that time EEC will conduct cost estimates in order to determine the number of children that may be served with the amount of ARRA funds recommended by the Board for this purpose. When funding becomes available, families must be enrolled from the centralized waiting list. Please make sure to use the “Summer-Only Care” code when entering children.
Feel free to email Bulletinquestions@state.ma.us with any questions. Thank you for your continued work on behalf of Massachusetts children and families.