By John Mooney
All-day kindergarten, tax credits – and even a new Department of Early Childhood – proposed by influential state Senate Democrat
Early childhood education is getting a further boost from the state’s Democrat-led Senate, as a new package of bills announced yesterday would offer all-day kindergarten for all and provide tax credits for childcare expenses.
State Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, announced the series of bills to supplement another package announced last month that called for expanded preschool for students from low-income families.
In addition the all-day kindergarten and tax credits, the latest package – some of it recycled from previous bills – also includes more funding for after-school programs and home visitations, and even calls for creation of a new cabinet-level state Department of Early Childhood.
The price tag, not including the tax credits, would be about $200 million a year, according to Ruiz’s office, including $78 million for all-day kindergarten.
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