Cyd Oppenheimer, J.D.

The early childhood years are a time of rapid cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and motor development. However, Connecticut's funding for infant and toddler care does not adequately address parents' needs for high-quality care, and the state's funding for preschool expansion is insufficient. In particular, state funding does not take into account the obstacles to expansion -- in particular the need for reliable and increased reimbursement rates for under-funded child care providers. Connecticut can improve quality and access to its early care system by: a) increasing funding for all state-subsidized early care and education programs to a rate based on the actual cost of providing high quality programs; b) fully funding both the rating and improvement elements of the Quality Rating and Improvement System; c) enacting paid family leave; and d) investing in professional development opportunities. (September 2008)

Downloads

Full Report (111.64K)