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It’s a new year, but early educators continue to cope with rising cases of COVID-19.

What we’re hearing on our 9:30 calls, is that the early childhood field is struggling badly. Because of Covid, many staff members are at home recovering, so some programs will probably have to close classrooms this week. And while the National Guard is delivering rapid Covid tests to public school districts, this not true for early education programs.

“The health crisis continues to highlight so many inequities in so many of our systems,” Amy O’Leary, Strategies for Children’s executive director, says. “We cannot make decisions for one part of the education system and leave out another. We need the same commitment to early educators and staff that the state is making to K-12 educators and staff with COVID tests.

“This pattern has continued through the pandemic. It is hard to believe that we are here after two years – especially since many early education and care programs were open last week, meaning directors and educators did not get a break during the holiday.”

In a Boston Globe article featuring local early education and care directors and educators, Lauren Cook, the CEO of Ellis Early Learning explained how hard running programs has been. As the article’s headline states, this work has been “Really demoralizing and operationally very, very hard.”

Programs need more rapid tests, N95 masks, and updated guidance and consideration for a test-and-stay policy in childcare.

Fortunately, the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is eager to help.

“EEC is working to support everyone with the information, resources and flexibility they need to make the best decisions for themselves, their program or community, and their own family during this time,” EEC Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy said earlier this week in a letter to the field.

“To that end, we wanted to let you know about new and expanded resources EEC will be providing as we navigate return to work and care in the new year.”

One tool is increased access to testing. As the commissioner explains:

“EEC will coordinate with Neighborhood Villages to distribute free rapid antigen test kits to child care centers and family child care homes. Sign up here to get access to tests as early as this week and stay informed about additional resources!”

Second, EEC is expanding its Child Care Testing Sites “to reduce wait times and increase access to rapid-turnaround PCR testing. Check out this link for more information on the existing Child Care Testing Sites and for the expanded locations, once available.”

Aigner-Treworgy encourages programs to update their Covid protocols based on new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Be sure to check the CDC’s website regularly, since its guidance is always evolving. Massachusetts also has useful guidance for the general public on Covid-related isolation and quarantine.

Programs can also “continue to consult their Local Boards of Health and the local public schools when identifying policies to prevent COVID transmission while keeping children safely in care.”

And stay tuned, EEC will be updating recommendations “to accompany the suggested strategies specific to the child care sector.” Click here to keep up with EEC’s guidance for child care.

While Covid means that this is not the happiest of new years, we are heartened by the commitment of early childhood providers and by the continued support of the Department of Early Education and Care.