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EEC opens public comment on C3 formula; proposes to maintain current formula for FY26 and require workforce investment
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Summary
EEC officials said they will use a board review and public comment process to formalize and (for FY26) maintain the current Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) funding formula, add a provider attestation to accept CCFA children, and require about half of C3 funds be used for workforce-related investments.
The Department of Early Education and Care is accepting public comment on the formula that determines monthly awards under the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) provider grant program and intends to present a recommendation to its board this fall.
At the meeting, Jocelyn (EEC staff member) said the agency must now use a formal board review and public comment process to establish and change the formula, per budget language included in recent legislation. “We do need to start using a formal board review process with public comment to make any changes to a formula,” Jocelyn said.
Why it matters: C3 is the state program that provides operating grants to providers; how awards are calculated affects provider revenue and program decisions. EEC said it will seek stability for FY26 by maintaining the current formula while using the public comment period to gather input for FY27 changes.
Proposed changes and timeline
- Maintain current FY26 formula: EEC proposed keeping the present formula for FY26 to provide stability; the agency opened a public comment period in August and scheduled a public hearing on the proposal in early October. - Provider attestation: By November, EEC will require providers receiving C3 to sign an attestation confirming they will enroll children who have childcare financial assistance (CCFA) if they have an opening and a family with eligibility. - Workforce investment requirement: EEC is proposing that 50% of C3 funds be directed toward workforce-related costs (payroll, benefits, professional learning). Agency staff said available data show many programs already spend significant C3 dollars on workforce. No explicit salary benchmarks are being proposed for FY26. - Annual recalculation and application relock: EEC will ask providers to reapply or update applications in November so monthly award calculations can be recalculated using updated enrollment and program data; recalculated monthly awards would become fixed payments for the remainder of the fiscal year.
EEC encouraged providers and stakeholders to submit written comments and to attend a scheduled public hearing. Staff said the public comment will inform both the immediate FY26 decision and potential changes in FY27.
