Photo: Alyssa Haywoode for Strategies for Children

Here’s some great news: The Baker-Polito administration and the Massachusetts Legislature have just announced that early education will get an additional 2 percent rate increase.

This increase “is in addition to the 6 percent rate hike that all state-subsidized early education and care programs received earlier this year – worth $28.6 million – which was the largest rate hike in more than a decade,” according to a press release.

“The Board of Early Education and Care voted yesterday afternoon to approve the additional 2 percent rate increase, retroactive to July 1, 2017.” The increase will go to the daily reimbursement rate for center-based child care programs and for family child care systems. “The funding for the additional 2 percent rate increase was made possible through an increase in the fiscal year 2018 state budget.”

Governor Charlie Baker said of the increase, “This is a significant investment in rate increases that will help improve the quality of early education and care programs for thousands of families in every zip code.”

“It is essential that we support those who educate our youngest and most vulnerable residents,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “The work of these educators touches the lives of thousands of children, impacts economic realities for families across the Commonwealth, and helps spur young individuals towards brighter futures.”

Acting Senate President Harriette L. Chandler said. “Investing in education at the earliest stages is critical for developing intelligent and curious young learners. With this extra funding, we are supporting children and families who need early education the most.”

And Education Secretary James Peyser added, “We’re happy to build on the historic investment in our early education workforce, which will help provide meaningful quality improvements, ensure programs can pay good teachers more, and build on other initiatives and policy reforms.”

The increase “also supports progress toward EEC’s goal to have the subsidized rate in all regions of the state meet at least 75 percent of the local private market rate for the same type of care.”

Nonie Lesaux, the chair of the Board of Early Education and Care, explained, “The increase also supports progress toward EEC’s goal to have the subsidized rate in all regions of the state meet at least 75 percent of the local private market rate for the same type of care.”

And Early Education Commissioner Tom Weber noted, “This year’s historic rate increases recognize the invaluable contribution that early educators make to our communities and reflect the Commonwealth’s commitment to making early education and care professionals the centerpiece of a strong system that supports all families.”