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Local Head Start and CCR&R leaders urge EEC to revise new CCFA 30‑day waiting rule
Summary
Public commenters at the EEC board meeting criticized a new policy advisory effective April 1 that imposes a 30‑day waiting period for childcare financial assistance (CCFA) when families offered funding do not have a current approved activity; commenters said the rule may delay enrollment, burden programs and risk Head Start compliance.
At the Department of Early Education and Care board meeting, Community Action Pioneer Valley and Massachusetts child‑care intermediaries asked EEC to reconsider or refine a new policy advisory that went into effect April 1 and adds a 30‑day waiting period for families offered CCFA who do not already have an approved activity such as work or school.
Kara Peters, enrollment manager for Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Head Start and Early Learning Programs, told the board: “When they're offered funding for, for care they're required to take an additional 30 days to seek an activity before being eligible to enroll their child into care.” Peters said programs cannot hold slots unpaid for that long and warned that slots will likely be filled by the time families complete the 30‑day window. She also said the policy could increase administrative burden for programs that must contact multiple families and could create funding‑compliance issues for Head Start programs, which may enroll only up to 10% of children considered over income for Head Start.
Kim Dionne, assistant vice president for 7 Hills Child Care Resources and representative of the Massachusetts Resource and Referral Network, told the board the network is requesting an increase in the CCR&R line item (line item 5,000) from $20,000,000 to $23,000,000 to help manage growing caseloads and staff turnover. Dionne said the network facilitated over 20,000 payments totaling more than $650,000,000 in 2024 and that CCR&R staff are experiencing unsustainable workloads.
Why it matters: The CCFA system and wait‑list rules determine whether families can enroll and when. Commenters said the new 30‑day policy could lengthen families’ time to access child care, deepen administrative burdens on providers and CCR&Rs, and unintentionally push Head Start programs toward over‑income enrollments.
What commenters asked: Peters urged EEC to (a) require clearer notice to families when they are placed on wait lists, (b) consider requiring families to give programs 30‑day withdrawal notice so programs can manage slots, and (c) clarify how provisional 12‑week authorizations would interact with enrollment and program finances. CCR&R leaders asked the board to support a permanent funding increase for CCR&R services to meet rising demand.
Ending: Board members acknowledged the concerns and the staff presentation that followed the public comment period noted the CCFA program is under active review as part of several ongoing reforms; no immediate policy change was adopted during the meeting.
