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Officials defend partial childcare scholarship freeze as advocates push to restore enrollments
Summary
DLS and MSDE officials told the subcommittee the childcare scholarship program surged to nearly 48,000 children, prompting a partial enrollment freeze while MSDE and the administration seek sustainable funding; advocates urged ending the freeze and funding provider rate increases and credentialing for the workforce.
Department of Legislative Services analyst Natalie Andrade told the subcommittee the Division of Early Childhood’s FY27 allowance is $966.1 million, driven chiefly by childcare scholarship and pre‑K formula increases. DLS highlighted that program enrollment surged to a record 47,811 children in June 2025 after officials announced an enrollment freeze effective May 1, 2025, and that a waitlist remained (DLS reported roughly 3,745 children / ~2,700 families as of Oct. 28, 2025).
MSDE officials, including Secretary Sanjay Rai and Chief Operating Officer Krishna Tallur, said the…
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