Update on post-COVID conditions from the Department of Early Education and Care |

Update on post-COVID conditions from the Department of Early Education and Care

June 8, 2021 by Alyssa Haywoode

EEC Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy

Dear Program Leaders,

Thank you all for the continued partnership and feedback as we continue to navigate this unprecedented time. As we continue to receive questions and feedback about the transition to post-COVID conditions, we wanted to assure you that EEC will continue to provide information and support throughout the months ahead as communities work to recalibrate our work through the summer.

The Baker-Polito Administration announced that the remaining COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted beginning May 29, and EEC retired the Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety. We recognize that child care programs still face many challenges and our stakeholders need time to ensure the appropriate policies are put in place to meet the needs of the families you serve. EEC continues to be committed to supporting programs through this transition and assist you as you work to identify the path forward that works for your programs. As previously referenced, EEC will be establishing revised guidance around regulations and monitoring throughout the month of June and will not begin on-site monitoring until July. During the month of June we will send weekly communications to update providers and provide answers to the on-going questions received through office.commissioners@mass.gov.

EEC introduced Suggested Strategies for the Prevention and Response to COVID-19 in Early Education and Care Programs. We will continue to update this document with answers to frequently asked questions received through the months ahead.

To continue the ongoing dialogue with you all, I will be hosting a Conversation with the Commissioner on June 29^th at 6pm. I look forward to hearing from you about the progress in your programs and to strategize together as we forge ahead.

Thank you for your commitment to the children and families of the Commonwealth and to the field of early education and care as a whole. We are building a better future together.

Samantha Aigner-Treworgy
Commissioner of Early Education and Care

In response to questions we have been receiving, the following answers are available on the Suggested Strategies for the Prevention and Response to COVID-19 in Early Education and Care Programs :

Do vaccinated individuals have to wear a mask? DPH’s mask advisory says “For individuals who are fully vaccinated, the CDC guidance says you may resume all of the activities that you engaged in prior to the pandemic without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart.”
Do unvaccinated individuals have to wear a mask? DPH’s mask advisory says that unvaccinated staff, and educators, and children 5 years old and older continue to wear masks when inside a program and unable to distance. Children do not have to wear masks or maintain distance when outdoors.
Which COVID-19 specific practices and protocols are still required in child care? Except for reporting requirements, none of the COVID-19 specific practices and protocols from the Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety are required at this time. This includes:
- Health attestations: health attestations and visual screens are no longer required when individuals enter the program. Programs no longer need to retain previously completed health attestations and may dispose of them immediately.
- Non-essential visitors: All individuals may now be allowed back into the child care space.
- Operating at licensed capacity: All programs may now operate at their full licensed capacity.
- Operating in licensed space: Center-based programs can return to the minimum space requirements of 35 square feet per child without any further action. More information is forthcoming.
- Posted Reopening Letters: Programs may remove their posted ‘Provisional Reopening Letter’ and/or ‘Final Reopening Letter’ at their program at this time.
- Reopening Transactions: Programs are no longer required to complete a reopening transaction prior to reopening. More information is forthcoming. You can find more information on this page in the Question and Answer section.
Subsidy payments: At this time, the subsidy policies and flexibilities that were established during COVID remain in place. No changes to subsidy policies will take place at this time.
Licensing visits: Licensing visits will remain virtual until after July 1, 2021, with the exception of visits for new program licensure and licensure of new space which will continue to require an in-person visit.

EEC is working in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to finalize protocols for residential and placement programs and more information will be provided shortly. The changes described in this document apply only to child care programs.