Governor Baker Announces $6.3M in Grants to Improve Pre-K Programs

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced Friday $6.3 million in grant awards to support high-quality preschool environments for children through the state’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program.

The UPK grant funds will support an array of Pre-Kindergarten classroom enhancements.

Children enrolled in early education and care programs across the state will benefit from the following improvements:

• The purchase new curriculum and materials
• The hiring of additional staff to reduce class size
• The use of formative assessment to individualize instruction
• The utilization of comprehensive services to meet a range of children’s needs

The UPK grant funds will also support better compensation for educators and increased professional development opportunities.

“With these grants, we are pleased to help over 500 Pre-Kindergarten childcare centers and public schools sustain a high level of quality across the commonwealth,” said Baker. “We are proud to provide their programs with this support leading to better outcomes for children.”

The Department of Early Education and Care awarded 117 grants that will support nearly 8,000 children in over 500 Pre-Kindergarten classrooms across the state.

Photo Credit: WHDH, 7 News