Massachusetts is taking more major steps to expand early education access, state officials announced, expanding access to thousands more families and continuing the nearly $500 million in investments.

“Today we’re announcing our ‘Gateway to Pre-K’ agenda — what it’s about, Gateway to Pre-K, it’s about these guys” said Healey, gesturing to the group of 4-year-olds seated in the gym at a press event in the Mystic Valley YMCA in Malden Tuesday. “Let me tell you what it does.”

The Gateway to Pre-K plan has four major components: all 4-year-olds in 26 Gateway cities — expanded from 12 currently served —  will have access to low- or no-cost preschool by 2026; 4,000 new families will receive Child Care Financial Assistance as they state expands income eligibility; continuing to fund Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants for child care providers into FY 2025; and signing an executive order to support for affordable, high-quality child care.

The state funded $475 million in the last budget for the C3 grants, which is estimated to support 7,000 child care programs and over 42,000 educators. The investment is added over 10,000 child care seats statewide, the administration said.

The C3 grant program was primarily funded by federal dollars in the first year but will continue with only state dollars.

The Child Care Financial Assistance eligibility is currently at 50% of the state median income and will be raised to 85% or less than annually $84,094 for a family of two and $103,880 for a family of three. The assistance covers all or a percentage of the cost of care based on their income.

Strong pre-K support, speakers said, has benefits for students’ early learning development, parents’ opportunity to go back to work, and in the long-run, the state’s economic workforce.

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“I really want to emphasize the importance of every student having the opportunity to access high quality of care and learning experiences, no matter their circumstances,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler.  “The childcare and preschool initiatives announced today will act as a down-payment to the future success of our children, building a foundation for social, emotional and academic success not just as a as they transition to kindergarten, but truly for their lives.”

Parents at the event spoke to the transformative role of child care in their lives.

“As a first-time mom, it was very important to have access to affordable, reliable and quality childcare, not only for my family, but for every other family across Massachusetts,” said Rosemary Hernandez. … “A woman deserves to have the opportunity to work, and children deserve a opportunity to get a head start on their education.”

Speakers said the state will continue to expand investment in “system wide solutions” for childcare.

“The goal is to get to universal pre-K for every 4-year-old in the state,” said Healey. “That is the goal.”

Governor Maura Healey has a laugh at an event at the Mystic Valley YMCA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Malden Mayor Gary Christenson gets ready to speak with Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll as pre-schoolers file in at the Mystic Valley YMCA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)