On January 22nd, the Healey-Driscoll administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal, which included notable spending increases in health care, education, and transportation. The $62.07 billion spending plan is a $4.3 billion (7.4 percent) increase over the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and a $1.8 billion (2.1 percent) increase over the administration’s FY 2025 estimated spending level.

This brief focuses on the $1.7 billion included in the Governor’s FY 2026 budget proposal for early education and childcare programs, including descriptions of where investments occur and how proposed funding compares to the FY 2025 GAA.