WOBURN – State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) and State Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) recently attended the Communities United Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Creative Start Children’s Center in Woburn. They were joined by the Center’s management team and parents to discuss the critical role preschool and early childhood education services play for young learners and their families. The Center’s Head Start program provides comprehensive services to low-income children and their families and promotes school readiness for children by supporting their growth and development in a positive learning environment.
“Access to high-quality preschool and daycare isn’t just crucial for a child’s educational development – it’s also an economic issue for working parents and promotes workforce productivity,” said Representative Haggerty. “Events like this help policymakers better understand the impact these services have on both children and their parents as we work to increase access and affordability in our communities and statewide.”
“I have had the opportunity to visit the Creative Start Children’s Center several times, and it is the perfect example of a high-quality early education center that is doing vital work in our community,” said Senator Friedman. “As a Legislature, we need to make sure that this program and others like it can grow successfully, as we work to increase access for children and families across the Commonwealth.”
The event provided an opportunity for Representative Haggerty and Senator Friedman to hear directly from the preschool management and parents about the importance of reliable, high-quality childcare and preschool services. During the discussion, multiple parents recounted witnessing their children flourish – rapidly picking up pre-reading abilities, developing self-confidence and independence, and forming lasting friendships. The ability to continue working while their kids learned and grew in a high-quality setting was described as “invaluable” and a source of immense gratitude. Several shared that reliable childcare their children received at the Creative Start Children’s Center was truly “life-changing” for their families.
The legislators came away with a deeper appreciation for how access to affordable preschool and daycare doesn’t just benefit the children but lifts whole families. It enables parents to be productive members of the workforce while ensuring their youngest receive an educational head start. The firsthand stories from these parents underscored the critical importance of supporting policies and funding streams that increase access to quality early childhood services across the Commonwealth.
