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Facts About Early Care in Connecticut |
Legislative Collaborative for Early Care & Education |
Early Care and Early Education Division
Web links
The CAHS Early Care and Early Education Program Area is
a statewide initiative designed to increase access to affordable, quality
Early Care in Connecticut. We place special emphasis on the needs of
low- and moderate-income families.
To achieve its goals, the Early Care and Early Education Program Area
is engaged in a wide range of activities. For example:
- We conduct public education and technical
assistance activities. We maintain a clearinghouse
on Early Care and related issues and provide technical assistance
to individuals and organizations seeking to become more involved in
promoting quality Early Care.
- We conduct research.
In November 1990, CAHS published Caring for the Children, the first
comprehensive analysis of Connecticut's Early Care system. The information
gathered for this book continues to serve as the basis for policy
initiatives that we develop and promote.
- We are conducting an initiative focusing
specifically on issues of quality in early education.
As one aspect of the project, we are working to ensure that appropriate
linkages are made between the early childhood and primary education
communities to promote a continuum of learning experiences that are
developmentally appropriate for children.
- We are involved in supporting school
readiness initiatives as well as local efforts to
increase communication between preschool Early Care providers and
public school teachers in order to help children make the transition
into kindergarten and then the primary grades.
- We work to ensure that laws and regulations
are implemented in a manner that will best meet the needs of families.
For example, we are extensively involved in ensuring appropriate implementation
of recent federal Early Care legislation which brought over $15 million
to Connecticut in its first three years. Division staff have served
on the Executive Committee of the Early Care and Development Block
Grant and have provided in-depth analyses of the legislation to Committee
members so that planning required by the legislation takes place in
an informed manner.
- We participate in various statewide
and local coalitions working to improve the Early Care system,
thereby serving as a link among groups and individuals.
- Through ongoing activities and initiatives
such as these, we will help ensure that all families in need of child
care have access to the quality, affordable services they deserve.
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