“When taken at face value, early education and care may not seem like a business or labor issue.  But make no mistake, it is.”

                                                                ~House Speaker Robert DeLeo

A group of business leaders has released its report “The Business Imperative for Early Education.”  At a State House press conference, the group – convened by House Speaker Robert DeLeo  – unveiled its findings & recommendations that focus short-term on stabilizing in the early education workforce and long- term on creating a workforce system based on credentials and quality.

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce President James Rooney said that we must invest in the early education workforce by “building a talent pipeline that will improve access and opportunity for all our children in Massachusetts.”  Speaker DeLeo thanked the group and assured reporters that the groups findings would impact the upcoming state budget deliberations, noting “early educators & quality programs were his first item of importance as they prepare for the FY ’18 House budget process and that “a multi-year effort was needed to address a field in crisis.”

Association Executive Director William Eddy labeled the press event “a remarkable day for community-based early education and school age programs.  Today, business leaders from Boston to the Cape and Western Mass stood together to stress the importance of quality early education – That is something that we have not seen before.  We are appreciative of their collective efforts and the leadership of Speaker DeLeo.”