Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative funding supports advancement of city’s mixed delivery early education and care systems work in FY23

Over the last eight years, Somerville has been on a mission to re-envision early education and care in the city, working collaboratively to develop a system that supports a high quality, mixed-delivery model. The mixed delivery model is a collaboration between public, non-profit, and private entities that maximizes equitable access to diverse early education and care programs.

This model benefits early childhood classrooms across the city and continues to offer parents a choice in the best early childhood setting for their family. Earlier this month, Somerville received notification of an $897,000 Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) grant award from the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) that will help Somerville continue to advance this strategic work. Somerville Public Schools serves as the lead agency, with the SPS Early Education Department working in partnership with the City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services SomerPromise Department, the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC), and local partner centers through the Somerville Partnership for Young Children (SPYC). 

The goal of the CPPI-supported early childhood work aligns with four primary needs and recommendations identified in a 2018 Ready to Learn, Ready for K report commissioned by Somerville as it launched its efforts to expand access to high-quality early education and care across the city. The CPPI funding supports the following four goals:

·        Establish a mixed-delivery system and leadership structure to unify partners and expand quality.

·        Develop a single point of entry system to increase access to programming.

·        Offer comprehensive services to provide wraparound supports.

·        Develop enhanced data systems to support learning and development.

Thanks in part to prior CPPI, Commonwealth Children’s Fund, and Eastern Bank Foundation support, as well as other programmatic and funding assistance, Somerville has made significant progress on their early education and care systems-building work. Among its early successes are the creation of the Somerville Partnership for Young Children, the Child Care Financial Assistance Program to expand access to high-quality early childhood programs particularly for historically underserved and marginalized communities, the beginnings of a Single Point of Entry system that includes the Somerville Hub Connect, the development of a Somerville Early Education (SEE) Every Child Curriculum website, joint professional development and coaching for SPS and center-based early childhood educators, and systems to provide wraparound support services to students in center-based programs.

The FY23 CPPI funding will be used to continue advancing this work, with a focus on three program priority areas: 

·        Expanding access to quality affordable preschool by supporting enrollment and staffing efforts; 

·        Building locally aligned program quality through professional development and coaching as well as instructional materials; and 

·        Equitable access to special education and inclusion through targeted staffing and consulting support.

“In Somerville, we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a city where all youth and families can thrive,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “To do that, we need to invest in early education and care systems, not only to prepare our children for school but to set a foundation for their futures. This award from the EEC is instrumental in supporting our work to deliver high-quality, accessible options that meet the diverse needs of Somerville families.”

“Somerville has been on the cutting-edge over the last several years, of building an early education and care system that works for every family in our community,” added Acting Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jeff Curley. “This generous funding and programmatic support allows us to continue this important work to ensure that every child in our city has a positive and high-quality early learning experience so that they’re ready and excited for kindergarten and beyond.”