RSG | Programs & Policies

"Policies and programs aimed at improving the life chances of young children come in many varieties…They all share a belief that early childhood development is susceptible to environmental influences and that wise public investments in young children can increase the odds of favorable developmental outcomes."
--National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, in "From Neurons to Neighborhoods," 2001

In this section, we will accumulate information on public policies in Connecticut and beyond that support the public goal of getting all young children to the kindergarten door healthy and ready for school success. We also identify the first several of what will become a long list of Connecticut programs that help our young children to achieve that goal.

For a general listing of early childhood programs in Connecticut including those that provide health services, child care and preschool services, family support, parent education, financial assistance and more, contact [1] Infoline 2-1-1.

Sampler of Connecticut Statewide Policies

[2] An Act Concerning Career Ladder Programs. Public Act 03-142 passed by the 2003 CT General Assembly established a Connecticut Career Ladder Advisory Committee, led by the CT Office for Workforce Competitiveness and the CT Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.

Online at: [3] http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2003/act/Pa/2003PA-00142-R00HB-06600-PA.htm

By February 1, 2004, the Office for Workforce Competitiveness is required to "develop a three-year plan for the creation or enhancement of career ladder programs for occupations in early childhood education, child care, health care or any other occupation in this state with a projected workforce shortage for the following five years."

[4] CT State Board of Education "Position Statement on Preschool Programs and Services." This statement of policy was adopted on September 11, 2002 and can be accessed online at: [5] http://www.state.ct.us/sde/deps/Early/PreschoolPositionStatement.pdf

[6] CT State Board of Education "Vision" Statement on access to preschool. This statement can be found in "Closing the Achievement Gaps: Removing the Barriers to Preschool in Connecticut." November 2003. (32 pp).

Online at: [7] http://www.state.ct.us/sde/deps/Early/PreschoolReport.pdf

[8] Federal No Child Left Behind Legislation. "This new law represents his [President George W. Bush] education reform plan and contains the most sweeping changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) since it was enacted in 1965… The act contains the President's four basic education reform principles: stronger accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control, expanded options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work.." This description is taken from the Connecticut State Department of Education’s web primer "Closing the Gap: No Child Left Behind."

Online at: [9] http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/der/nclb/index.htm. See also the federal No Child Left Behind website at: [10] http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml

Sampler of Connecticut Statewide Programs

[11] Care 4 Kids (formerly the CT Child Care Assistance Program). Care 4 Kids is the State of Connecticut's child care subsidy program that helps low to moderate income families pay their child care expenses. The program is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

Online at: [12] http://www.dss.state.ct.us/ccare/index.htm.

Over the state fiscal year ending in June of 2002, 28,175 children and their families monthly received financial assistance from the Care 4 Kids program. As part of the Connecticut budget adopted for 2003-04 and 2004-05, funding for the Care 4 Kids program was cut by 30% from actual 2002 expenditure levels.

[13] HUSKY (Health Care for Uninsured Kids and Youth). Connecticut’s HUSKY program, enacted through legislation in 1997, is Connecticut's public health insurance program for children and teenagers under age 19. It includes services under the traditional Medicaid program (now known as HUSKY Part A) as well as health services for children in higher-income families (called HUSKY Part B).

Online at: [14] www.huskyhealth.com.

In July of 2003, about 205,000 children were receiving health services through the HUSKY A Program. HUSKY B provided services to 14,773. However, budget cuts, eligibility restrictions, and the imposition of co-pay requirements will reduce the number of children covered in the current year.

For more information about the changes to HUSKY enacted as part of the current Connecticut State Budget, go to: [15] www.childrenshealthcouncil.org.

[16] School Readiness Program. Connecticut’s School Readiness Program, enacted through legislation in 1997 and administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education, established a grant program to provide spaces in accredited or approved school readiness programs for eligible children in priority school districts and districts with severe-need schools.

Online at: [17] http://www.state.ct.us/sde/deps/readiness/index.htm

In 2002-03, the Connecticut School Readiness program served a total of 6,237 three- and four-year olds, with a total budget of $40, 210,096. An October 2000 report produced by the State Department of Education and Department of Social Services indicated that an additional 14,700 at risk preschool children in Connecticut communities still required access to the Connecticut School Readiness Program.