MA S339

Creates a high quality pre-kindergarten education grant program administered by the Department of Early Education and Care for children ages 2 years 9 months through kindergarten eligibility, with goals of reducing the achievement gap and improving third-grade reading scores

Eligible grantees include individual school districts or regional collaborations that partner with licensed community-based early learning programs, with grants awarded based on readiness and need criteria, prioritizing districts with the highest percentage of high-need students

Establishes program standards including maximum 10:1 child-to-instructor ratio, maximum class size of 20 students, full school day programming, inclusion of children with disabilities, and instructional staff salaries comparable to K-12 teachers

Requires grantees to submit EEC-approved preschool expansion plans detailing local early education system assessments, family needs profiles, proposed budgets, and evidence of collaboration within mixed-delivery systems

Mandates quarterly reporting to the department, establishment of local governing councils for oversight, and annual effectiveness evaluations by the commissioner, with regulations to be promulgated within 6 months of enactment