Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order on Friday, August 29, that enables childcare options for families with students engaged in remote learning.
The executive order enables the Department of Early Education and Care [EEC] to authorize licensed after-school and out-of-school programs to operate during the school day while children are learning remotely.
EEC can now authorize childcare programs like YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, family childcare homes, and others, to care for school-age children while they participate in remote learning.
EEC will also exempt informal remote learning parent cooperative arrangements organized by families, if the groups are supervised by unpaid parents.
Parent cooperatives are still subject to all state orders regulating gatherings.
Baker’s order also creates a temporary license exemption for remote learning enrichment programs to provide supervision and care for school children up to age 14 while they participate in remote learning during the school day.
These remote learning programs must meet specific criteria and be approved by their local municipality.
EEC and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will issue joint guidance on the minimum requirements for these remote learning programs.
