Malden delegation celebrates $750k state grant to expand access to preschool in Malden

BOSTON/MALDEN – State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Steve Ultrino, Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Paul Donato were pleased to announce that Malden Public Schools have been awarded a $750,000 Commonwealth Preschool Partnerships Initiative (CPPI) Implementation Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). For Fiscal Year 2024, CPPI Implementation Grants were awarded for the purpose of expanding high-quality prekindergarten or preschool opportunities for three- and four-year-old children who will be eligible for kindergarten by September 2024 and September 2025. CPPI grants help foster partnerships between public K-12 school districts and community-based, EEC-licensed early education programs in order to expand access to high-quality education and support the diverse needs of families. Malden Public Schools previously received a CPPI Planning Grant in 2022.

“Access to high-quality, affordable early education enhances the cognitive and social-emotional development of young children, enables parents to work and improves families’ economic well-being, and helps employers that are struggling with workforce shortages,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “I’m thrilled that Malden is receiving this sizable state grant to continue its efforts expanding access to high-quality preschool for Malden families.”

“This award will help our community develop lasting partnerships and infrastructure to ensure families have access to quality early education programs,” said State Representative Steven Ultrino. “I am excited to see continued investments in our early education system so that our children have a strong foundation for kindergarten and their futures beyond.”

“As a former educator and mother, I fully understand the importance and the necessity of affordable, early education,” said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “This funding will ensure the expansion of high-quality, affordable pre-kindergarten and preschool opportunities, enhancing the education experience for young students, their families, and educators. I am proud to see the Malden Public Schools – 1 of 21 awardees for this cycle – receive this critical funding to support young learners and families.”

“I’m thrilled that Malden Public Schools has been once again chosen to be a recipient of this grant,” said State Representative Paul Donato. “This grant will continue to expand upon efforts to provide an equitable, high-quality early education for Malden children and families.”

“We have always felt that early learning helps build a strong foundation in young children for future success in school,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson. “Thanks to our State Delegation and Governor Healey’s Administration, we are now able to better support preschool programs in the community with high quality curriculum and other resources. Specifically, we will be partnering with local preschools to increase access for families as well as Cambridge Health Alliance to bring counseling to preschoolers. We believe this effort will help our youngest students succeed at kindergarten level and beyond.”