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Massachusetts Secretary of Education and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Visit South Shore Community Action Council’s Early Education Center in Plymouth to Highlight Head Start State Supplemental Funds Amid Federal Shutdown

October 27, 2025

Plymouth, MA – South Shore Community Action Council (SSCAC) was honored to welcome Massachusetts Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw on October 27, 2025, as they highlighted Head Start State Supplemental Funds and outlined the Commonwealth’s priorities to strengthen the early education workforce and support children and families.

During the visit to SSCAC’s South Shore Early Education center in Plymouth, Dr. Tutwiler and Commissioner Kershaw toured classrooms, engaged with preschoolers, and met with teachers and program staff to discuss the impact of high-quality early education on lifelong learning and family stability. The FY26 funding will build on Massachusetts’ longstanding partnership with Head Start and Early Head Start providers, investing in initiatives to:

• Recruit, retain, and develop early education professionals;
• Expand access to comprehensive services for children and families; and
• Ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in a supportive environment.

“Head Start programs serve about 11,000 children and 4,000 professionals across the Commonwealth each year. You’re giving each and every one of these students a high-quality education and preparing them for their future while also helping low-income working families drive our economy forward,” said Dr. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education. “We are deeply committed to the early education sector. We’ll do everything in our power to support you, to keep you at the fore of our thoughts, to keep organizations running smoothly so you can continue to care for our youngest learners.”

Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw added, “Head Start State Supplemental Funds invest in our educators so they can stay in the classroom, can advance their professional growth and development, and stay in this field that they love. We are concerned and stand in partnership with you in light of the disruptions this shutdown may cause across the state. I’m thrilled to be here to represent our state’s commitment to Head Start and our strong partnership, especially at a moment when we need the federal government to re-open and step back in and do its part.”

SSCAC’s South Shore Early Education program offers Head Start, Early Head Start, and state-subsidized childcare for hundreds of children annually from birth to age five across the South Shore region and on Cape Cod. South Shore Early Education provides high-quality education, nutrition, health, and family engagement services designed to prepare children for success in school and in life.

“We were honored to host Secretary Tutwiler and Commissioner Kershaw,” said Lisa Spencer, CEO of SSCAC. “Their visit shines a light on the critical role Head Start and early education play in building stronger families and communities. These Head Start Supplemental Funds make a real difference for our children, families, and dedicated staff.”

Secretary Tutwiler and Commissioner Kershaw were joined by MA Senator Dylan Fernandes, Representative Kathy LaNatra, Representative Michelle Badger, the Executive Director of the MA Head Start Association, Michelle Haimowitz, and Massachusetts Head Start State Collaboration Office Director Amy Whitehead-Pleaux.

About South Shore Community Action Council

South Shore Community Action Council (SSCAC) is a private nonprofit organization that serves 29,000 low-income individuals and families annually across the South Shore, South Coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands. SSCAC’s mission is to eliminate poverty by empowering families and individuals to achieve economic stability and a better quality of life through programs that offer education, nutrition, utility assistance and conservation, transportation, financial stability, and community engagement. Learn more at www.sscac.org.

South Shore Early Education is now enrolling infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. For enrollment information, call (508) 746-0333 or visit www.sscac.org/early-education.