Give families more ways to pay you: accept state Child Care Financial Assistance, protect your C3 grant, join a pre-K partnership if your district has one, and help families apply. Then work your waitlist and marketing by age group so open seats fill fast.

By our editors · Facts checked October 7, 2026

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The short version

A woman sits on a classroom floor with a toddler on her lap who raises both hands
Photo: AMONWAT DUMKRUT / Unsplash

Why are seats sitting empty?

NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children) surveyed more than 10,000 early educators in January 2025. Among administrators, 55% were below their preferred enrollment.

The top reason: parents can’t afford it (41%), ahead of pay too low to staff up (37%) and too few staff (36%).

NAEYC’s next survey pointed the same way. As First Five Years Fund reported in April 2026, 65% of centers raised tuition in the past year, and more than half of program leaders saw more families leave after losing a subsidy or running out of money. Demand is there. Price is the wall.

1. Accept state financial assistance

Massachusetts Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) pays programs two ways: vouchers, which belong to the family and work at any program that accepts CCFA, and contracted slots, funded seats under a direct contract.

Three changes make it worth a fresh look. Since January 1, 2026, families can qualify with income up to 85% of state median income, up from 50%, after a June 2025 board vote. In September 2026 the state put $31.2 million toward reopening assistance for the first time since April 2024. And provider rates rose April 1, 2026, retroactive to July 1, 2025.

Keep it real: 31,724 children were on the waitlist in July 2026, and state officials said the new money won’t reach every family. Voucher-only programs need CCFA attendance training; start with your regional Child Care Resource and Referral agency’s CCFA administrator.

2. Protect your C3 grant (and know who can’t get one)

Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants are monthly operating grants for programs licensed by EEC, the Department of Early Education and Care. The final fiscal 2027 budget funds C3 at $475 million, level with fiscal 2026, and folds it all into one line item.

New programs are a different story. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation reported that programs opened since July 2025 have been unable to get C3. EEC’s C3 page says newly licensed providers become eligible only if funding is available, and it reviews that quarterly.

As of October 7, 2026, we found no EEC notice reopening C3 to new programs. Opening a second site? Call the C3 Grant Help Desk at 1-833-600-2074 before you budget on it.

EEC hasn’t posted a fiscal 2027 formula yet. Under the fiscal 2026 formula:

  • Centers with a 12-month average enrollment of at least 75% got the full base rate; lower enrollment was prorated. Family child care homes needed an average of 3 or more children.
  • Programs had to attest each month that they’d enroll a child with CCFA when they had an open spot and an interested family.
  • Programs serving more children with financial assistance got a higher equity multiplier.

Every filled seat helps twice: tuition now, C3 later. The fiscal 2027 budget also requires programs to answer all EEC data requests and surveys to stay eligible, so don’t ignore them.

3. Join a pre-K partnership

The Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) funds districts in high-need communities to build preschool with at least two community programs, centers or family child care, so families pay little or nothing.

It served more than 3,000 children in 30 communities in 2025, but no new planning grants went out in fiscal 2026. If your district takes part, ask its early childhood coordinator how partners are picked. Families can read our guide to free pre-K in Massachusetts.

4. Price for the families you serve

  • Sliding scale: Set tiers by household income and size, cap the number of reduced-rate seats and fund the gap with grants, donations or employer support. Know your cost per seat first; our Massachusetts childcare cost guide shows what families are comparing.
  • Sibling discounts: A younger sibling is often your easiest seat to fill.
  • Part-time pairs: Match a Monday-to-Wednesday family with a Thursday-and-Friday family to fill one full-time seat. Price part-time days a bit higher.
  • Write it down: Every discount goes in a written policy, applied the same way to every family.

5. Help families apply

6. Bring local employers in

Starting in 2026, the federal employer-provided child care credit covers 40% of qualified costs, or 50% for eligible small businesses, up to $500,000 a year ($600,000 for small businesses). Contracts with a licensed program qualify.

Pitch nearby hospitals, manufacturers and school districts on reserving seats for staff, and suggest they check with a tax adviser. Staffing up for new seats? See how to recruit and keep teachers.

7. Run your waitlist like a pipeline

  • Sort by age group and desired start date, not just sign-up date.
  • Forecast openings: list when children age up, move rooms or leave for kindergarten.
  • Contact waitlisted families every month or two so the list stays current.
  • Hold seats with a deposit and a start date, and set a deadline to accept.
  • Track why families say no. Price, schedule and location each need a different fix.

8. Market to the age group you need

Open seats usually sit in one room, so aim there. Infants: pediatric offices, prenatal classes and current families. Toddlers: libraries, playgroups and family resource centers. Preschool: kindergarten readiness and any pre-K partnership seats. In every channel, say clearly that you accept financial assistance.

For children who need extra support

Say out loud that you welcome children with developmental differences and work with Early Intervention and school district teams. Families of children who need extra support often struggle to find a program that says yes, and they remember who did. See our inclusive care section.

Common questions

Should my program accept child care vouchers?

If you have open seats, look hard. Vouchers bring in families you couldn’t otherwise serve, rates rose in 2026, and the fiscal 2026 C3 formula required willingness to enroll children with financial assistance. Compare your region’s rates with your costs first.

Are C3 grants still available?

For existing participants, yes: the fiscal 2027 budget funds C3 at $475 million. Programs that opened after July 2025 have been unable to join, and EEC says new providers get in only if funding allows. Check EEC’s C3 page or call the help desk.

How do families apply for financial assistance in Massachusetts?

Online through MyChildCareMA. Households up to 85% of state median income may qualify, with priority for certain groups. Funding is limited, so many families wait.

What’s the fastest way to fill an infant opening?

Reach families before the baby arrives, through pediatric offices, prenatal classes and current families expecting another child. Keep the infant waitlist sorted by due date and start date.

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