Joint Roundtable/Working Meeting with the City Council and School Committee

Executive Summary

The Cambridge City Council and School Committee held a joint roundtable on June 29, 2026, to review the status of the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) following its second year of implementation. The meeting focused on the program's current enrollment demographics, the quality monitoring system, and a financial analysis of potential means testing versus maintaining a universal model. Key discussions centered on the feasibility of expanding the program to all three-year-olds—noting that only 67 general applicants were currently unmatched—and addressing the high cost and limited supply of infant and toddler care in the city. While means testing was explored as a cost-saving measure, the administration reported that the potential savings would be minimal compared to the increased administrative complexity and the financial burden it would place on middle-income families.

Meeting Overview and Attendance

Meeting Date: June 29, 2026, at 4:04 PM.
Governing Bodies: Cambridge City Council and Cambridge School Committee.
Meeting Type: Joint Roundtable/Working Meeting.
Purpose: To discuss the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP), including means testing and program expansion, as outlined in City Matters Agenda Item 2026-92.
Key Participants:
- City Council: Mayor Denise Simmons, Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem, Councilors Ayah Al-Zubi, Timothy Flaherty, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Catherine Zusy.
- School Committee: Chair Weinstein, Vice Chair Zubi, and Members DiPaolo-Santos, Hudson, Jaykumar, and Siddiqui.
- City/School Staff: Yi-An Huang (City Manager), David Murphy (Superintendent of Schools), Cheryl Olson (Executive Director, Office of Early Childhood), and Joseph Corzini (Assistant City Manager for Human Services).

Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) Status Update

Cheryl Olson, Executive Director of the Office of Early Childhood (OEC), provided an update on the program's second year:

Enrollment: The program ended the school year with 858 students.
Demographics: 56% of students were general applicants and 44% were priority applicants (those at or below 65% of Area Median Income, or meeting other criteria like homelessness or foster care).
Matching Success: 92% of all applicants were matched with one of their top three choices; 97% of priority applicants received a top-three choice.
Three-Year-Old Access: While all four-year-olds are guaranteed a seat, three-year-old seats for general applicants are limited. Currently, 67 general three-year-old applicants remain unmatched.
Quality Monitoring: A new quality monitoring system was launched this year, using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and OEC staff observations to ensure all providers meet high standards.

Financial Analysis and Means Testing

The administration presented an analysis of implementing means testing (income screening) for the CPP:

Current Costs: The city pays approximately $31,000 per student for the 6.5-hour school day in community-based programs, plus $193 per month for extended day services for priority families.
Means Testing Projections:
- Implementing a sliding fee scale similar to DHSP programs would yield approximately $6 million in gross savings under the most aggressive model.
- After accounting for $400,000 to $500,000 in new administrative infrastructure costs and potential impacts on the public school system, net savings would likely drop to $4 million or less.
- If families up to 200% AMI were held harmless, savings would drop to approximately $1 million.
Policy Recommendation: The administration noted that means testing would be a significant departure from the city's commitment to universal pre-K and would primarily squeeze middle-income families (65% to 100% AMI) who already struggle with housing and extended care costs.

Future Expansion and Infant/Toddler Care

The meeting addressed the broader "Birth to Five" landscape and potential expansion paths:

Horizontal Expansion: Moving toward universal access for all three-year-olds. Councilor McGovern noted that closing the 67-seat gap for three-year-olds might be a more achievable short-term goal than previously thought.
Vertical Expansion: Addressing the infant and toddler (birth to age 2) sector.
Market Realities: Massachusetts is the most expensive state for infant care. In Cambridge, infant care costs represent approximately 20% of family income, nearly triple the federal recommendation of 7%.
Supply Challenges: There is a significant shortage of infant/toddler seats and qualified educators. The OEC is exploring stabilization funds and public-private partnerships to increase supply.

Council and Committee Discussion

Workforce Equity: Vice Chair Zubi requested a detailed comparison of educator salaries across CPS, DHSP, and community-based organizations (CBOs) to ensure the city is not relying on lower-wage sectors to manage costs.
Developmental Appropriateness: Councilor Nolan emphasized the need for play-based, developmentally appropriate environments, particularly as the program expands to younger children within the public school system.
Transportation: Member Harding highlighted that the lack of city-provided transportation for preschool is a significant barrier for families, particularly those not matched with a neighborhood provider.
Data Tracking: Member Hudson inquired about plans to track the academic and social-emotional outcomes of the first CPP cohorts as they progress through the K-12 system.