Governor Baker has ordered all early childhood education programs across the State of Massachusetts to suspend providing childcare by 11:59 P.M. on Sunday, March 22, 2020. This will remain in effect until April 6, 2020. At the same time, the Department of Early Education and Care (“EEC”) is establishing a process to approve Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs to serve vulnerable children and the children of families who are required to work to maintain the health, safety and welfare of all Commonwealth citizens.This approach prioritizes public health and safety while maintaining critical service for vulnerable children and the children of families who are required to work during this pandemic. You can find the link to the announcement here.

Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs will be the only child care programs that are allowed to operate during the COVID-19 State of Emergency.

Child care providers who are able to begin providing Emergency Child Care must begin the approval process by signing up through EEC’s online form:

Providers who have subsidized children and remain closed will continue to receive child care subsidy payments from the state; the Commonwealth will also temporarily cover the cost of parent fees for our subsidized enrollment. This attempts to ensure that programs will be able to re-open once the crisis is over.

Parents who receive subsidies will not lose their vouchers.

This closure does not apply to residential and placement schools.