01/26/2026
Massachusetts has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into child care through Commonwealth Cares for Children grants, which have helped stabilize the industry by boosting wages, slowing tuition increases, and expanding the number of child-care slots. However, care remains unaffordable for many families—especially low-income households—as funding hasn’t kept pace with growing demand, leaving thousands of eligible children wait-listed and policymakers facing tough choices about how to target limited resources.
The C3 grants are boosting wages, moderating tuition growth.
