Good Monday morning, everyone.
If you’re the parent of a small child — or children — or you know someone who is, you have either loudly complained, or heard your friends loudly complain, about the truly insane cost of child care.
That’s because the Bay State is one of the most expensive states in the country for child care, with infant care clocking in at $24,005, or just about $2,000 a month. That’s up from $20,913 in 2023, according to one analysis.
And once you get past the hallucinatory and sleep-deprived, but no less magical time that is infancy, there’s no relief from the high cost of child care either. That comes in at $18,760 a year, or $1,563 a month, according to an analysis by the education website Tootris.com.
But according to a new report, it’s a problem that goes both ways. While parents are paying more, the state is working hard to recruit and retain the battalion of workers who look after your children.
Right now, there are more than 46,000 educators employed at early education programs of all sizes across the state, according to an analysis released late last month by the progressive Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.
While the state has made strides in improving working conditions and wages, low pay and a lack of opportunity for growth have led to churn within the industry, researchers found.
“The [early childhood] workforce is overwhelmingly composed of women and most educators, especially family child care providers, are women of color,” the analysis noted.
“The [early childhood] workforce also represents thousands of small businesses in the state. Building a strong ECE workforce is essential to the growth, equity, and sustainability of the child care system and of our state,” researchers continued.
Right now, the average salary for an early childhood education worker is about $5,000 a year less than the average starting salary of a K-12 teacher, the analysis found.
In the Bay State, a starting teacher earns an average of $50,882 a year, slightly more than the national average of $46,590, according to an analysis by the employment website ZipRecruiter.
“Building a strong ECE (early childhood education) workforce is essential to the growth, equity and sustainability of the child care system and of our state,” researchers wrote. “However, low wages and structural challenges have created a system that is hard for educators to remain and thrive in, limiting the expansion of programs and child care access across the state.”
These workers, the report concludes, are the “workforce behind the [state’s] workforce.”
The report points to three areas where the state has made progress, including increased reimbursement rates that have helped drive up wages. The state has also helped early child educators cover their own child care needs, which has allowed them to stay in the field, the report noted.
The report offers three recommendations to keep the industry healthy and sustainable — particularly in the face of federal funding cuts.
This includes building on the state’s existing Commonwealth Cares for Children Program, commonly referred to as “C3,″ which helps providers cover their labor and operational costs.
The report also recommends that “policymakers plan sustainably for the future by focusing on programs with proven success and intentionally and strategically allocating any new state funding for early education.”
Mass. Senate advances juvenile justice bill
Democrats who control the state Senate have advanced legislation that would divert young people into the juvenile justice system, which backers call a “crucial step” toward protecting the state’s youngest residents.
The five Democratic senators on the Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary approved the bill, which raises the age for someone to enter the adult criminal justice system to 21.
The change diverts 18-to-20-year-old offenders into the juvenile system’s rehabilitative programming, according to State House News Service.
The bill now goes to the chamber’s Ways and Means Committee, traditionally the last stop before a bill goes to the Senate floor for a vote, the wire service reported.
A 2013 law allowed 17-year-olds to be included in the juvenile justice system, a change that advocates said dramatically reduced juvenile crime, according to State House News Service.
Advocates have rallied behind legislation that would gradually raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to include 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds over five years, the wire service reported.
Monday numbers
Eight cities and towns statewide will share in $6.4 million in state grant money to fund renovations to public parks and expand outdoor recreation opportunities, the Healey administration announced last week.
The money, augmented by $10.5 million in matching funds, will yield a total of $17 million for recreation projects across the state, the administration said.
The grants come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Program, managed by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
“Public parks and open spaces are essential infrastructure — places where communities connect and people enjoy nature. From shade trees to accessible playgrounds, these spaces promote physical health, mental well-being and social interaction,” state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a statement. “Supporting municipalities in their efforts to build inclusive, resilient parks is invaluable to our public health and sense of community.”
The communities receiving funding are:
Boston, Ceylon Park, $1 million
Easthampton, Nonotuck Spray Park, $264,500
Groton, Cow Pond Fields, $1 million
Harvard, Harvard Park (McCurdy Track & Field), $1 million
Haverhill, Clement Farm Fields, $555,378
Newburyport, Bartlet Mall, $775,000
Westfield, Westfield Skate Park, $800,000
Worcester, Lake View Playground, $1 million
Since the program’s inception, Massachusetts has invested more than $144 million in its parks and open spaces through the grant program.
“Investments like these are crucial for protecting our environment, improving public access, and fostering stronger, healthier communities,” state Sen. Liz Miranda, D-2nd Suffolk, said.
“From revitalizing Nonotuck Spray Park to expanding Westfield’s Skate Park, I can’t wait to see people of all abilities enjoying these renewed and accessible recreational spaces,” state Sen. John C. Velis, D-Hampden/Hampshire, said.
They said it
“We’ve got to find a way to work together to preserve and promote and protect the greatest nation on Earth.”
— Former Vice President Mike Pence makes a plea for a more civil politics during a stop at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate in Dorchester last week.
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What goes on
The advocacy group Abundant Housing Massachusetts hosts an Oct. 9 candidates forum, focused specifically on housing, for the at-large candidates running for Boston City Council.
The 6 p.m. event at the Student Commons at Roxbury Community College will focus on an array of concerns, from zoning reform to affordability, organizers said in an email.
It’s co-sponsored by the Queer Neighborhood Council and moderated by Andrew Brinker of The Boston Globe.
You can find parking information and directions at this link.
Turned up to 11
Indie veterans Modest Mouse play the MGM Music Hall in Boston on Oct. 15 (tickets and more info here). From their 2021 LP “The Golden Casket,” here’s “We Are Between.”
Your Monday long read
It’s October, which means we’re officially into #spookyszn (though we know some among you started much, much earlier).
Some of you may also have made the obligatory pilgrimage to Salem to get your ghost and goblin on. For those who have, or for those who are looking for a fresh alternative, we have you covered.
From the folks at Matador Network, here’s a list of the most mysterious spots in every state. Some, like Maine’s Allagash Wilderness Waterway, are an easy drive. And you can learn all about the infamous “Allagash Abductions” in 1976.
But if you’re willing to burn some frequent flyer miles, there’s always Nevada’s Clown Motel, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It’s a “31-room fever dream packed with vintage clown dolls, garish murals and alleged paranormal activity.”
If you go, let me know. I’d love to hear how it went.
That’s it for today. As always, you can send tips, comments and questions to jmicek@masslive.com. Have a good week, friends.