Sec. 10-501a. Electronic portal re availability of slots in early childhood programs.
Sec. 10-508. Bond authorization for early care and education facility improvement grants.
Sec. 10-512. Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Sec. 10-512a. Funds to be transferred to the Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Sec. 10-512b. Release of funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Sec. 10-512c. Expenditure of funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Sec. 10-512d. Recipients of funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Sec. 10-512f. Requirements re family contributions.
Sec. 10-512g. Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board.
Sec. 10-512i. Impact analysis of operations of the Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Sec. 10-512k. Duties and powers of State Treasurer re Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Sec. 10-512l. Investment of funds in the Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Sec. 10-550b. Early Start CT. Contracts for financial assistance.
Sec. 10-550c. Early Start CT. Local and regional governance partners.
Sec. 10-550d. Early Start CT. Sliding fee scale.
Sec. 10-550g. Designated staff member and designated qualified staff member requirements.
Sec. 10-500. Office of Early Childhood. Commissioner. Responsibilities. Successor department. Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office. (a) There is established an Office of Early Childhood. The office shall be under the direction of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, whose appointment shall be made by the Governor. Such appointment shall be in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive. The commissioner shall be responsible for implementing the policies and directives of the office. The commissioner shall have the authority to designate any employee as his or her agent to exercise all or part of the authority, powers and duties of the commissioner in his or her absence.
(b) The office shall be responsible for:
(1) Delivering services to young children and their families to ensure optimal health, safety and learning for each young child, including, but not limited to, coordinating agency efforts and data sharing in the two-generational initiative established pursuant to section 17b-112l;
(2) Developing and implementing the early childhood information system, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-501;
(3) Developing and reporting on the early childhood accountability plan, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-503;
(4) Implementing a communications strategy for outreach to families, service providers and policymakers;
(5) Beginning a state-wide longitudinal evaluation of the school readiness program examining the educational progress of children from prekindergarten programs to grade four, inclusive;
(6) Developing, coordinating and supporting public and private partnerships to aid early childhood initiatives;
(7) Developing a state-wide developmentally appropriate kindergarten entrance inventory that measures a child's level of preparedness for kindergarten, but shall not be used as a measurement tool for program accountability;
(8) Creating a unified set of reporting requirements for the purpose of collecting the data elements necessary to perform quality assessments and longitudinal analysis;
(9) Comparing and analyzing data collected pursuant to reporting requirements created under subdivision (8) of this subsection with the data collected in the state-wide public school information system, pursuant to section 10-10a, for population-level analysis of children and families;
(10) Continually monitoring and evaluating all early care and education and child development programs and services, focusing on program outcomes in satisfying the health, safety, developmental and educational needs of all children;
(11) Coordinating home visitation services across programs for young children;
(12) Providing information and technical assistance to persons seeking early care and education and child development programs and services;
(13) Assisting state agencies and municipalities in obtaining available federal funding for early care and education and child development programs and services;
(14) Providing technical assistance to providers of early care and education programs and services to obtain licensing and improve program quality;
(15) Establishing a quality rating and improvement system developed by the office that covers home-based, center-based and school-based early child care and learning;
(16) Maintaining an accreditation facilitation initiative to assist early childhood care and education program and service providers in achieving national standards and program improvement;
(17) Consulting with the Early Childhood Cabinet, established pursuant to section 10-16z, and the Head Start advisory committee, established pursuant to section 10-16n;
(18) Ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive state-wide system of professional development for providers and staff of early care and education and child development programs and services;
(19) Providing families with opportunities for choice in services including quality child care and community-based family-centered services;
(20) Integrating early childhood care and education and special education services;
(21) Promoting universal access to early childhood care and education;
(22) Ensuring nonduplication of monitoring and evaluation;
(23) Performing any other activities that will assist in the provision of early care and education and child development programs and services;
(24) Developing early learning and development standards to be used by early care and education providers;
(25) Developing and implementing a performance-based evaluation system to evaluate licensed child care centers, in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-749f;
(26) Promoting the delivery of services to infants and toddlers to ensure optimal health, safety and learning of children from birth to three years of age; and
(27) Establishing a parent cabinet to advise the office on ways to strengthen partnership and communication with families, bring awareness to gaps and barriers to services, increase access to services for families and help make improvements to the lives of young children and families in the state.
(c) The Office of Early Childhood may enter into memoranda of agreement with and accept donations from nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to accomplish the purposes of this section.
(d) The Office of Early Childhood shall constitute a successor department, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39, to (1) the Department of Education with respect to sections 8-210, 10-16n, 10-16p to 10-16r, inclusive, 10-16u, 10-16w, 10-16aa, 17b-749a, 17b-749c and 17b-749g to 17b-749i, inclusive; (2) the Department of Social Services (A) with respect to sections 17b-12, 17b-705a, 17b-730, 17b-733, 17b-738, 17b-749, 17b-749d to 17b-749f, inclusive, 17b-749j, 17b-749k, 17b-750 to 17b-751a, inclusive, and 17b-751d, and (B) for the purpose of administering the child care development block grant pursuant to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; (3) the Department of Public Health (A) with respect to sections 10a-194c, 12-634, 17a-28, 17a-101 and 19a-80f, (B) for the purpose of regulating child care services pursuant to sections 19a-77, 19a-79, 19a-80, 19a-82 and 19a-84 to 19a-87e, inclusive, (C) for the purpose of the conduct of regulation of youth camps, pursuant to sections 19a-420 to 19a-434, inclusive, and (D) for the purpose of administering the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program authorized under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, P.L. 111-148; and (4) the Department of Developmental Services with respect to sections 17a-248, 17a-248b to 17a-248h, inclusive, 38a-490a and 38a-516a.
(e) The Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office shall be based in the Office of Early Childhood.
(P.A. 14-39, S. 4; P.A. 15-73, S. 5; 15-143, S. 12; 15-227, S. 24–26; P.A. 16-100, S. 4; 16-163, S. 7; P.A. 17-146, S. 47; P.A. 18-19, S. 3; 18-184, S. 1; P.A. 21-172, S. 6; P.A. 23-160, S. 40; P.A. 25-168, S. 311.)
History: P.A. 14-39 effective May 28, 2014 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (d)(1), a reference to repealed Sec. 10-16s was replaced editorially by the Revisors with a reference to Sec. 10-16r for accuracy); P.A. 15-73 amended Subsec.(d)(2)(A) to delete reference to Sec. 17b-739, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-143 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective June 30, 2015; P.A. 15-227 amended Subsec. (b)(7) by deleting “and implementing” and replacing “assessment tool” with “entrance inventory” and amended Subsec. (d) by deleting reference to Sec. 17b-751e, effective July 1, 2015; pursuant to P.A. 15-227, “child day care centers” and “child day care services” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “child care centers” and “child care services”, respectively, in Subsecs. (b)(25) and (d), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-100 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting “to 17b-736, inclusive” and adding Subdiv. (4) re Department of Developmental Services, effective June 2, 2016; P.A. 16-163 amended Subsec. (b)(10) by deleting “child day care” and adding “for child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes”, effective June 9, 2016; P.A. 17-146 added Subsec. (e) re Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office, effective June 30, 2017; P.A. 18-19 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re two-generational initiative in Subdiv. (1) and deleting reference to September 1, 2014 in Subdiv. (5), effective May 25, 2018; P.A. 18-184 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (26) re promoting delivery of services to infants and toddlers to ensure optimal health, safety and learning of children from birth to three years of age and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 21-172 amended Subsec. (b)(10) by deleting provision re retaining distinct separation between quality improvement services and licensing services, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 23-160 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (27) re establishing a parent cabinet to advise office, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 25-168 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “Said office shall be within the Department of Education for administrative purposes only.”, effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-501a. Electronic portal re availability of slots in early childhood programs. (a) Not later than July 1, 2028, the Office of Early Childhood shall establish and maintain an electronic portal available through a mobile application and through the office's Internet web site, for purposes of providing information concerning the availability of slots in early childhood programs in the state and collecting data for analysis by the office.
(b) The portal shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) A means for parents and guardians to submit information for resource referral and enrollment purposes in an early childhood program, (2) an ability for the office to manage payments to early childhood programs, (3) information on the availability of slots in early childhood programs, including the availability of free or subsidized slots, in each town and on a regional and state-wide basis, (4) a means for early childhood program providers to enter slot availability and enrollment information into the portal efficiently, (5) access to the portal through a mobile application or Internet web site, and (6) opportunities for families to apply for child care subsidies or other assistance.
(c) In developing the portal, the office shall (1) enter into memoranda of understanding with other state agencies for the purpose of linking data collected by such other state agencies with the functions of the portal, and (2) seek input from early childhood programs and parents and guardians of children enrolled in early childhood programs in the state.
(P.A. 25-82, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 25-82 effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-505c. Grant program for planning and designing, constructing and renovating child care facilities. Bond authorization. (a) As used in this section, “child care facility” means a child care center, group child care home or family child care home that provides child care services, as described in section 19a-77.
(b) The Office of Early Childhood shall establish a competitive grant program to assist persons or entities licensed under sections 19a-77 to 19a-87e, inclusive, with the costs of planning and designing, constructing and renovating child care facilities. The office shall establish an application process and eligibility criteria for prioritizing grant applications and awarding grants that considers the scope of each design, construction or renovation project and the type of child care facility to be constructed or renovated. The office may (1) contract with a third party for the administration of such grant program and provision of technical assistance to grant applicants and recipients, and (2) expend funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment to pay for the costs of providing technical assistance to grant applicants and recipients.
(c) In the case of any grant made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section that is made to any person or entity licensed under sections 19a-77 to 19a-87e, inclusive, that is not a political subdivision of this state, the contract entered into for the receipt of such grant shall provide that if the premises for which such grant was made ceases, within ten years of the date of such grant, to be used as a child care facility, an amount equal to the amount of such grant, minus ten per cent per year for each full year which has elapsed since the date of such grant, shall be repaid to the state and that a lien shall be placed on such land in favor of the state to ensure that such amount shall be repaid in the event of such change in use, provided if the premises for which such grant was made are owned by the state, a municipality or a housing authority, no lien need be placed.
(d) The State Bond Commission may authorize the issuance of bonds of the state, in accordance with the provisions of section 3-20, in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate eighty million dollars. The amount authorized for the issuance and sale of such bonds in each of the following fiscal years shall not exceed the following corresponding amount for each such fiscal year, except that, to the extent the State Bond Commission does not provide for the use of all or a portion of such amount in any such fiscal year, such amount not provided for shall be carried forward and added to the authorized amount for the next succeeding fiscal year, and provided further, the costs of issuance and capitalized interest, if any, may be added to the capped amount in each fiscal year, and each of the authorized amounts shall be effective on July first of the fiscal year indicated as follows:
Fiscal Year Ending |
Amount |
|
|
2026 |
$11,500,000 |
2027 |
11,500,000 |
2028 |
11,500,000 |
2029 |
11,500,000 |
2030 |
11,500,000 |
2031 |
11,500,000 |
2032 |
11,000,000 |
Total |
$80,000,000 |
(e) The proceeds of the sale of bonds as set forth in subsection (d) of this section shall be used by the Office of Early Childhood for the purpose of funding the competitive grant program described in subsection (b) of this section.
(f) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section, and from time to time renewed. All bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.
(P.A. 25-174, S. 121.)
History: P.A. 25-174 effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-507. Smart start competitive capital grant account. Smart start competitive operating grant account. (a) There is established an account to be known as the “smart start competitive capital grant account”, which shall be a capital projects fund. The account shall contain the amounts authorized by the State Bond Commission in accordance with section 10-508 and any other moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Office of Early Childhood for the purposes of the Connecticut Smart Start competitive grant program established pursuant to section 10-506.
(b) There is established an account to be known as the “smart start competitive operating grant account”, which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account. The account shall contain moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Office of Early Childhood for the purposes of the Connecticut Smart Start competitive grant program established pursuant to section 10-506.
(P.A. 14-98, S. 24; P.A. 15-227, S. 11; P.A. 16-163, S. 18; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 664; P.A. 18-81, S. 61; P.A. 25-110, S. 28.)
History: P.A. 14-98 effective May 22, 2014; P.A. 15-227 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same by replacing “smart start competitive grant account” with “smart start competitive capital grant account”, replacing “separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund” with “capital projects fund”, replacing “by subsection (a) of section 10-501” with “pursuant to” and deleting reference to section 3 of public act 14-41, and added Subsec. (b) re smart start competitive operating grant account, effective July 7, 2015; P.A. 16-163 replaced “Smart Start” with “Connecticut Smart Start”, effective June 9, 2016; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting “subdivision (4) of”, effective October 31, 2017; P.A. 18-81 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to Sec. 4-28e(c), effective May 15, 2018; P.A. 25-110 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to General Fund, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-508. Bond authorization for early care and education facility improvement grants. (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate forty-eight million five hundred nineteen thousand one hundred forty-nine dollars, provided three million five hundred nineteen thousand one hundred forty-nine dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 2015, five million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 2020, ten million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 2021, ten million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 2022, and ten million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 2023.
(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Office of Early Childhood for the purposes of early care and education facility improvements in the Smart Start competitive grant program established pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-501, section 10-506 and section 3 of public act 14-41*, Early Start CT under sections 10-550 to 10-550i, inclusive, programs administered by local and regional boards of education, and to expand the delivery of child care services to infants and toddlers where a demonstrated need exists, as determined by the Office of Early Childhood. Grants awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be used for facility improvements and minor capital repairs. Applicants eligible pursuant to this subsection may submit an application to the Office of Early Childhood and may receive a grant for capital expenses in an amount not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars per classroom for costs related to the renovation of a facility.
(c) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.
(P.A. 14-98, S. 25; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-4, S. 242; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 437; P.A. 20-1, S. 62; P.A. 21-111, S. 58; P.A. 25-168, S. 313.)
*Note: Section 3 of public act 14-41 is special in nature and therefore has not been codified but remains in full force and effect according to its terms.
History: P.A. 14-98 effective July 1, 2014; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-4 amended Subsec. (a) by decreasing aggregate authorization from $105,000,000 to $100,000,000, effective July 1, 2016; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 decreased aggregate authorization from $100,000,000 to $63,519,149, decreased authorization effective July 1, 2015 from $10,000,000 to $3,519,149, and delete authorizations effective July 1, 2016, July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018, effective October 31, 2017; P.A. 20-1 amended Subsec. (b) to add provisions re use of bond proceeds for school readiness program, state-funded day care centers, Even Start program, programs administered by local and regional boards of education and to expand delivery of child care services to infants and toddlers, use of grants for facility improvements and minor capital repairs, submission of applications to the Office of Early Childhood, maximum amount of grants and made a technical change, effective March 12, 2020; P.A. 21-111 decreased aggregate authorization from $63,519,149 to $48,519,149, decreased authorization effective July 1, 2020, from $10,000,000 to $5,000,000, and deleted authorization effective July 1, 2019, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 25-168 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting references to the school readiness program, state-funded day care centers and Even Start program, adding “Early Start CT under sections 10-550 to 10-550i, inclusive” and replacing $75,000 with $100,000 re grant for classroom renovation costs, effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Secs. 10-511 and 10-511a. Early Childhood Care and Education Fund. Early Childhood Care and Education Fund Advisory Commission. Sections 10-511 and 10-511a are repealed, effective June 23, 2025.
(P.A. 23-204, S. 338; P.A. 24-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 25-93, S. 43.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512. Early Childhood Education Endowment. (a) Commencing on July 1, 2025, there is established the Early Childhood Education Endowment. The endowment shall constitute an instrumentality of the state and shall perform essential governmental functions as provided in section 3-13c, this section, sections 10-512a to 10-512l, inclusive, and section 10-531b. The endowment shall receive and hold all payments and deposits or contributions intended for the endowment, as well as gifts, bequests, endowments or federal, state or local grants and any other funds from any public or private source and all earnings until released in accordance with section 10-512b.
(b) The endowment shall not be construed to be a department, institution or agency of the state. Amounts on deposit in the endowment shall not be commingled with state funds and the state shall have no claim to or against, or interest in, such funds. Any contract entered into by or any obligation of the endowment shall not constitute a debt or obligation of the state and the state shall have no obligation to any designated beneficiary or any other person on account of the endowment and all amounts obligated to be paid from the endowment shall be limited to amounts available for such obligation on deposit in the endowment. The amounts on deposit in the endowment may only be released in accordance with the provisions of section 10-512b. The endowment shall continue in existence as long as it holds any deposits or has any obligations and until its existence is terminated by law and upon termination any unclaimed assets shall return to the state. Property of the endowment shall not be governed by section 3-61a.
(c) The Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipt, maintenance, administration, investing and release of amounts from the endowment. The endowment shall not receive deposits in any form other than cash.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512a. Funds to be transferred to the Early Childhood Education Endowment. (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, based on an estimate prepared by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management between June 15, 2025, to June 30, 2025, inclusive, of the amount of current unappropriated surplus for such fiscal year, the amount of such estimated surplus, if any, up to a maximum of three hundred million dollars shall be transferred on or before June 30, 2025, by the Treasurer from the General Fund to the Early Childhood Education Endowment established under section 10-512.
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, based on such estimated amount of current unappropriated surplus described in subsection (a) of this section, if any, the entire amount of such estimated surplus for each such fiscal year shall be transferred by the Treasurer from the General Fund to the Early Childhood Education Endowment, except that if the amount in the Budget Reserve Fund is estimated by the secretary to be less than eighteen per cent of the estimated net General Fund appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year, the amount of such transfer shall be reduced by the amount necessary to increase the amount in the Budget Reserve Fund to eighteen per cent of the estimated net General Fund appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year, or by the maximum amount of the projected surplus, whichever is less, and an amount equal to such reduction shall be transferred to the Budget Reserve Fund.
(c) If the Comptroller determines that a deficit will exist for the preceding fiscal year, before the appropriation required by subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 4-30a, the amount necessary to fund such deficit shall be deducted from the amount transferred in such preceding fiscal year pursuant to this section and credited to the General Fund effective June thirtieth of such preceding fiscal year. If such deficit exceeds the amount transferred in such preceding fiscal year, no additional funds from the body of the endowment shall be used to fund such deficit.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512b. Release of funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment. (a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the Treasurer, in consultation with the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board, shall annually authorize the release of funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment in an amount not to exceed twelve per cent of the total amount of the endowment to the Commissioner of Early Childhood. Such released funds shall be expended by the Commissioner of Early Childhood in accordance with the provisions of section 10-512c.
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Treasurer shall, in consultation with the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board, annually authorize the release of funds from the endowment in an amount not to exceed ten per cent of the total amount of the endowment to the Commissioner of Early Childhood. Such released funds shall be expended by the Commissioner of Early Childhood in accordance with the provisions of section 10-512c.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512c. Expenditure of funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Expansion costs” includes expenses to increase early care and education program provider payment rates, increase equitable access and affordability of high quality early childhood education, extend the hours of operation per day or portion of the year covered or to sustain services previously funded by the Early Childhood Education Endowment;
(2) “Programmatic costs” includes costs for parent and early care and education program enrollment campaigns, local governance partners, needs assessment technical assistance, facilities program technical assistance and workforce recruitment and scholarships for educators in alignment with the early childhood priorities of the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board and the Office of Early Childhood; and
(3) “Administrative costs” includes costs relating to (A) personnel, including, but not limited to, the salary and fringe benefits of the employees of the Treasurer's office responsible for administering the Early Childhood Education Endowment and the employees of the Office of Early Childhood and the Department of Education responsible for administering programming that utilizes funds from the endowment, and the stipends provided to parent and program provider members of the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board pursuant to subsection (g) of section 10-512g, and (B) data and technology, including, but not limited to, the development and maintenance of payment or parent enrollment portals, establishing or managing memoranda of understanding between the Office of Early Childhood and other states agencies related to the provision of child care.
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the Commissioner of Early Childhood, upon receipt of the funds released by the Treasurer from the Early Childhood Education Endowment pursuant to section 10-512b, is authorized to expend such funds for the following purposes and in the following manner: (1) Up to eight per cent of such released funds for administrative costs, and (2) of such remaining released funds (A) three hundred thousand dollars for the health insurance subsidy program established pursuant to section 10-531b, and (B) the remaining balance for expansion costs and programmatic costs.
(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the Commissioner of Early Childhood, upon receipt of the funds released by the Treasurer from the endowment pursuant to section 10-512b, is authorized to expend such funds for the following purposes and in the following manner: (1) Up to twelve per cent of such released funds for administrative costs, and (2) of such remaining released funds (A) ten million dollars for the health insurance subsidy program established pursuant to section 10-531b, and (B) the remaining balance for expansion costs and programmatic costs.
(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Early Childhood, upon receipt of the funds released by the Treasurer from the endowment pursuant to section 10-512b, is authorized to expend such funds for the following purposes and in the following manner: (1) Up to seven per cent of such released funds for administrative costs, and (2) of such remaining released funds for (A) the health insurance subsidy program established pursuant to section 10-531b, and (B) expansion costs and programmatic costs.
(e) Any funds from the endowment that have been released by the Treasurer to the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 10-512b shall:
(1) Supplement and not supplant any other local, state or federal funds otherwise available for early childhood care and education;
(2) Not be comingled with any state or federal funding received under the child care development block grant pursuant to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; and
(3) Not lapse if not expended by the commissioner at the end of the fiscal year and shall be transferred to the Treasurer and deposited in the endowment.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025 (Revisor's note: In codifying section 4 of public act 25-93, incorrect references to “section 4 of this act” in Subsecs. (c), (d) and (e), which appeared in the engrossed bill, were changed editorially by the Revisors to “section 3 of this act” and therefore codified as references to section 10-512b).
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512d. Recipients of funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Early Childhood may expend, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-512c, funds released by the Treasurer from the Early Childhood Education Endowment, pursuant to section 10-512b, to any early care and education program providing child care services, as described in section 19a-77, or preschool program operated by a local or regional board of education that is (1) receiving financial assistance under Early Start CT pursuant to section 10-550b, (2) participating in the quality improvement system established by the Office of Early Childhood under subdivision (15) of subsection (b) of section 10-500, and (3) participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, 42 USC 1766, as amended from time to time, unless such program has received a waiver from participation in said program by the Commissioner of Early Childhood or is a public school preschool program that offers free or reduced priced lunches pursuant to federal law and regulations.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512e. Requirement re expansion of spaces in early care and education programs paid for with Early Childhood Education Endowment funds. On and after July 1, 2027, any expansion of spaces in early care and education programs paid for with funds from the Early Childhood Education Endowment under section 10-512c shall be for at least thirty-five per cent infant and toddler spaces.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512f. Requirements re family contributions. (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the family contribution for child care services provided by an early care and education program that is receiving funding from the Early Childhood Education Endowment shall be as follows:
(1) Any family with an annual gross income of less than one hundred thousand dollars shall not be financially responsible for the cost of such child care services; and
(2) Any family with an annual gross income of one hundred thousand dollars or greater shall be financially responsible for an amount up to seven per cent of such family's annual gross income.
(b) Any family contribution collected by an early care and education program that is receiving funding from the endowment shall be reported in a form and in such manner as prescribed by the Office of Early Childhood. Such amount so collected shall be deducted from the overall rate paid by the Office of Early Childhood to such program and settled in reconciliation.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512g. Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board. (a) There is established the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board. The board shall be responsible for (1) providing oversight of the administration of the Early Childhood Education Endowment, (2) ensuring that funds from the endowment are expended in accordance with the provisions of section 10-512c, (3) reviewing all reports and expenditure plans concerning the endowment submitted by the Treasurer and Commissioner of Early Childhood, (4) reviewing and assessing the outcomes related to the expenditure of funds from the endowment, and (5) preparing and submitting reports and recommendations to the General Assembly concerning the administration of the endowment and permissible expenditure of funds from the endowment, including recommendations for expansion of permissible expenditures of funds from the endowment.
(b) The board shall consist of the following members:
(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a parent who is a member of the parent cabinet established by the Office of Early Childhood pursuant to section 10-500 and one of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives;
(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be the licensee of a family child care home and one of whom shall be a member of the Senate;
(3) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be an educator in an early care and education program in the state and one of whom shall be the parent or guardian of a child receiving services under the birth-to-three program established under section 17a-248b;
(4) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of a philanthropic organization that is engaged in early childhood education issues or child care issues in the state and one of whom shall be a special education teacher or administrator in a public school preschool program that is providing services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1431 et seq., as amended from time to time;
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who is a representative of a child care center;
(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who is an educator in a preschool program provided by a local or regional board of education;
(7) Two appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a representative of a corporation with a significant physical presence in the state and that employs individuals who may benefit from early childhood education and state child care initiatives and one of whom shall be a representative from a Head Start program;
(8) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee;
(9) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee;
(10) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and
(11) The Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee.
(c) All initial appointments to the board shall be made not later than September 1, 2025. Each appointed member shall serve in accordance with the provisions of section 4-1a and the appointing authorities shall appoint members to ensure representation on the board of all geographic areas in the state, to the extent practicable. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term.
(d) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee, the member of the House of Representatives and the member of the Senate shall serve as the chairpersons of the board. The chairpersons shall jointly schedule the first meeting of the board to be held not later than October 1, 2025. The board shall meet at least quarterly and host an annual public hearing prior to the completion of the annual report described in subsection (f) of this section.
(e) The Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee, shall, at the first meeting of the board and semiannually thereafter, submit to the board an actuarial chart that includes a review of the total amount of funds within the endowment, the health of the investments of the endowment, the anticipated growth of the endowment and any recommended models for the timing and rate of drawing down from the endowment.
(f) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the board shall develop a report that includes, but is not limited to, (1) the financial health and actuarial future of the endowment based on information received from the Treasurer, (2) the expenditures of funds from the endowment, (3) status updates of early care and education programs, early childhood educators, families and children served, and (4) any recommendations for legislation. The board shall submit such report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, children, appropriations and finance, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(g) The members of the board shall serve without compensation, except the parent and program provider members of the board may, within available resources, be provided a stipend for serving on the board.
(h) The board shall be within the office of the Treasurer for administrative purposes only.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512h. Recommendations re indicators for prioritization in competitive procurement process for expansion costs. On and after July 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Early Childhood shall submit recommendations to the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board on indicators for prioritization in a competitive procurement process when considering programs for expansion costs, as defined in section 10-512c.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512i. Impact analysis of operations of the Early Childhood Education Endowment. (a) Not later than January 1, 2032, and every five years thereafter, the Commissioner of Early Childhood shall prepare an impact analysis concerning the operations of the Early Childhood Education Endowment and the effect that the expenditure of funds from the endowment have had on the availability, affordability and quality of early child care in the state. Such impact analysis shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a report on the solvency of the endowment prepared by the Treasurer, and (2) an analysis of the effect that the expenditure of funds from the endowment has had on (A) early care and education programs receiving financial assistance under Early Start CT pursuant to section 10-550b, (B) early care and education programs that are not receiving state financial assistance, (C) access of families to early care and education programs receiving state financial assistance under Early Start CT, (D) tuition and family contribution rates, (E) early childhood educator salaries and benefits, and (F) the state-wide demand for child care.
(b) Not later than July 1, 2031, the commissioner shall submit such impact analysis to the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board and to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, children, appropriations and finance, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512j. Recommendations re expansion of permissible expenditures of Early Childhood Education Endowment funds. Upon receipt and review of the impact analysis prepared by the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 10-512i, and following consultation with the Treasurer regarding the solvency of the Early Childhood Education Endowment, the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board shall develop recommendations concerning the expansion of permissible expenditures of funds from the endowment under section 10-512c. Not later than January 1, 2032, the advisory board shall submit such recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, children, appropriations and finance, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512k. Duties and powers of State Treasurer re Early Childhood Education Endowment. (a) The Treasurer, on behalf of the Early Childhood Education Endowment and for purposes of the endowment, may:
(1) Receive and invest moneys in the endowment in any instruments, obligations, securities or property in accordance with section 10-512l;
(2) Enter into one or more contractual agreements, including contracts for legal, actuarial, accounting, custodial, advisory, management, administrative, advertising, marketing and consulting services for the endowment, and pay for such services from the assets of the endowment;
(3) Procure insurance in connection with the endowment's property, assets, activities or deposits to the endowment;
(4) Apply for, accept and expend gifts, grants or donations from public or private sources to enable the endowment to carry out its objectives;
(5) Adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 for purposes of section 3-13c, sections 10-512 to 10-512l, inclusive, and section 10-531b;
(6) Sue and be sued;
(7) Establish one or more funds within the endowment; and
(8) Take any other action necessary to carry out the purposes of section 3-13c, sections 10-512 to 10-512l, inclusive, and section 10-531b and incidental to the duties imposed on the Treasurer pursuant to said sections.
(b) The Treasurer, on behalf of the endowment and for purposes of the endowment, shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Commissioner of Early Childhood to establish information-sharing practices for purposes of section 3-13c, sections 10-512 to 10-512l, inclusive, and section 10-531b. Such memorandum of understanding shall be in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 12.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-512l. Investment of funds in the Early Childhood Education Endowment. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 3-13 to 3-13h, inclusive, the Treasurer shall invest the amounts on deposit in the Early Childhood Education Endowment in a manner reasonable and appropriate to achieve the objectives of the endowment, exercising the discretion and care of a prudent person in similar circumstances with similar objectives. The Treasurer shall give due consideration to rate of return, risk, term or maturity, diversification of the total portfolio within the endowment, liquidity, the projected disbursements and expenditures and the expected payments, deposits, contributions and gifts to be received. The Treasurer shall not require the endowment to invest directly in obligations of the state or any political subdivision of the state or in any investment or other fund administered by the Treasurer. The assets of the endowment shall be continuously invested and reinvested in a manner consistent with the objectives of the endowment until disbursed for eligible expenditures or expended on expenses incurred by the operations of the endowment.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective June 23, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-531a. Early childhood program employee health coverage study. Health insurance subsidy program. Outreach activities. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Health benefit plan” and “qualified health plan” have the same meanings as provided in section 38a-1080;
(2) “Health insurance subsidy” means an amount that is a portion of the remaining balance of the cost of a qualified health plan after the application of all available income tax credits, employer contributions and other subsidies; and
(3) “Early care and education program” means a program providing child care services, as described in section 19a-77, that is licensed by the Office of Early Childhood.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, established pursuant to section 38a-1081, shall study the level of need for coverage under a health benefit plan that exists for employees of early care and education programs for the purpose of modeling and estimating the cost of operating a health insurance subsidy program for such employees pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, gathering data from the Office of Early Childhood and other resources to assess (1) the size and demographics of the population of such employees, (2) the number of such employees without coverage under a health benefit plan, and (3) any other information required to effectively model and estimate the cost of such program.
(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange and the Office of Early Childhood shall jointly establish, based on the model developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, a health insurance subsidy program for employees of early care and education programs through which such employees may apply to the exchange to receive a health insurance subsidy that is applied to the cost of a qualified health plan purchased through the exchange, whether such plan is an individual health plan, an employer reimbursement arrangement authorized pursuant to federal law or a group health plan offered by an employer. The exchange and the office shall jointly develop eligibility criteria for the health insurance subsidy program that includes, but is not limited to, such employee (1) being ineligible for Medicaid, and (2) applying for and accepting all available income tax credits, employer contributions and other subsidies applicable to the cost of a health benefit plan. The exchange shall post such eligibility requirements and the application forms for the health insurance subsidy program in a conspicuous location on its Internet web site.
(d) Not later than May 1, 2026, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange shall submit to the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board, established pursuant to section 10-512g, a recommendation for the amount of the health insurance subsidy available to participants under the health insurance subsidy program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, based on the amount allocated for such purpose in the Early Childhood Education Endowment, established pursuant to section 10-512, and the estimated number of participants in the health insurance subsidy program for such fiscal year. On or before June 30, 2026, the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board shall approve or modify such recommendation. The amount of such health insurance subsidy shall be applied directly to the cost of a qualified benefit plan and may not be distributed to any participant.
(e) The Office of Early Childhood shall contract with community organizations to coordinate outreach activities for employees of early care and education programs to assist such employees to obtain coverage under a health benefit plan, whether such coverage is through Medicaid or participation in the health insurance subsidy program.
(P.A. 25-93, S. 15.)
History: P.A. 25-93 effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-550b. Early Start CT. Contracts for financial assistance. (a) As part of Early Start CT, the state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, may enter into direct or third-party contracts to provide financial assistance to municipalities, local and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, family resource centers, Head Start programs, preschool programs, nonprofit organizations, child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, as such terms are described in section 19a-77, and any other programs that meet standards established by the commissioner for the purpose of operating early care and education programs that focus on providing early childhood services based on economic, social or environmental conditions, including in regions with insufficient access to child care. At least sixty per cent of the eligible children enrolled in an early care and education program receiving financial assistance under Early Start CT shall be members of a family that is at or below seventy-five per cent of the state median income. No such financial assistance shall be available to (1) any such child care center, group child care home or family child care home unless such center or home has been licensed by the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-80 or 19a-87b, or (2) any such local or regional board of education or regional educational service center unless the preschool program is approved by the Department of Education. The commissioner shall ensure that the majority of such early care and education programs receiving such financial assistance shall serve children that reside in or attend early care and education programs located in priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p, former priority school districts or towns with schools deemed severe need schools because forty per cent or more of the lunches served are served to students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches pursuant to federal law. In determining whether to enter into a contract for financial assistance under this section, the commissioner may consider (A) a community's participation in the state's subsidized child care subsidy program established pursuant to section 17b-749, and (B) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's social vulnerability index determined by census tract.
(b) Any contract for financial assistance entered into under this section shall be contingent upon available funding and a successful application submitted to the office and which has been informed by the appropriate local or regional governance partner's needs assessment and community plan, as described in section 10-550c.
(c) The office, in operating and administering Early Start CT, may allocate an amount up to ten per cent of the total Early Start CT funding for child care spaces awarded to providers supported by each local or regional governance partner established pursuant to section 10-550c, but not more than three hundred fifty thousand dollars, for coordination, program evaluation and administration. Such amount shall be increased by an amount equal to local funding provided for early childhood education coordination, program evaluation and administration, not to exceed fifty thousand dollars. Each local or regional governance partner shall designate a staff person to be responsible for such coordination, program evaluation and administration and to act as a liaison between the town or towns and the commissioner.
(d) Any early care and education program receiving financial assistance under Early Start CT shall not discriminate based on ancestry, race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, learning, physical, intellectual or mental disability or any other protected class described in chapter 814c.
(e) No financial assistance received as part of Early Start CT under this section shall be used to supplant federal, state or local funding received for early care and education on behalf of children in an early care and education program.
(f) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the office may pay, in an individual contract entered into under this section, a per-child rate or an amount per classroom that has been determined by the commissioner. (A) The per-child rate paid by the office under this section for each eligible child enrolled in a program under Early Start CT who is three or four years of age and each child who is five years of age and not eligible to enroll in school, pursuant to section 10-15c, shall be at least ten thousand five hundred dollars for each such child. The amount per classroom for such children described in this subparagraph shall be at an equivalent rate per child multiplied by the total capacity of the classroom as determined by the commissioner on a case by case basis and established in the contract. (B) The per-child rate paid by the office under this section for each eligible child enrolled in a program under Early Start CT who is under the age of three and enrolled in an infant or toddler classroom and not in a preschool classroom shall be at least thirteen thousand five hundred dollars for each such child. The amount per classroom for such children described in this subparagraph shall be at an equivalent rate per child multiplied by the total capacity of the classroom as determined by the commissioner on a case by case basis and established in the contract.
(2) For purposes of implementing the provisions of this subsection, the commissioner shall develop policies and procedures governing classroom sizes, payments and required enrollment rates. The commissioner shall use data-driven, outcomes-based contract provisions to facilitate and incentivize full enrollment.
(g) The office may use up to three per cent of funds allocated to the early care and education appropriation to evaluate program effectiveness and impact on participating children, families and programs, including, but not limited to, child outcomes, later school performance, quality standards, professional development and preparation, and parent engagement impact.
(h) Any Early Start CT facility that has been approved to operate an early care or education program financed through the Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority and has received a commitment for debt service from the Department of Social Services, pursuant to section 17b-749i, on or before June 30, 2014, and on or after July 1, 2014, from the office shall be exempt from the requirement for issuance of requests for proposals.
(P.A. 24-78, S. 26; P.A. 25-143, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 24-78 effective July 1, 2025; P.A. 25-143 amended Subsec. (c) by changing amount permitted allocated for coordination, program evaluation and administration from 10 per cent of financial assistance contract to 10 per cent of Early Start CT funding for local or regional governance partner supported child care spaces and increasing the maximum amount from $150,000 to $350,000, effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-550c. Early Start CT. Local and regional governance partners. (a) There shall be established, within available appropriations, a local or regional governance partner to assist in the provision of early care and education in a community under Early Start CT. A town or school district and appropriate representatives of groups or entities interested in early care and education in such town or school district may establish a local governance partner. Two or more towns or school districts and appropriate representatives of groups or entities interested in early care and education in a region may establish a regional governance partner.
(b) The membership of each local or regional governance partner shall reflect the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic composition of the town or region it serves and consist of early care and education stakeholders, including, but not limited to, elected and appointed officials, parents, representatives with expertise in early care and education, a representative, where applicable, of Smart Start established pursuant to section 10-506, local education and healthcare providers in the community, a local homeless education liaison, community representatives from a workforce or job training entity and other community representatives who provide services to children.
(c) The role and responsibilities of a local or regional governance partner shall include, but are not limited to, (1) conducting and administering a data-driven needs assessment for its respective community or region in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, (2) employing strategies to solicit parental engagement and membership, (3) providing periodic technical assistance regarding best practices in early care and education and family engagement for its town or region, (4) jointly sponsoring with the office, professional development opportunities, and (5) ensuring that community outreach is regularly conducted and maintained with community stakeholders.
(d) Each local or regional governance partner shall, within available appropriations, conduct a data-driven needs assessment for the town or region in which such partner serves. Such needs assessment may include recommendations for the preferred distribution and allocation of child care spaces within such partner's respective town or region, and, subject to the office's approval, may include a data-driven methodology to reassign child care spaces before the contract date has lapsed. Such needs assessment shall be created by the office in collaboration with communities and shall directly inform, among other things, the assignment of child care spaces across a mixed-delivery system, including, but not limited to, licensed family child care homes, group child care homes, child care centers and license-exempt public schools.
(e) Each local or regional governance partner shall employ a staff liaison to aid and support the local or regional governance partner in implementing the provisions of this section. Each staff liaison shall ensure (1) that partnerships are established and fostered among child care providers, (2) that cooperation is maintained with the Office of Early Childhood in monitoring and evaluating early care and education programs, (3) that existing and potential resources and services available to children and families are identified, (4) facilitation and coordination of efficient, data-driven, delivery of services to children and families, including (A) referral procedures, and (B) before and after school child care for children attending school day, school year programs, (5) the exchange of information with other community organizations serving the needs of children and families, (6) that recommendations are made to school officials concerning transition from child care programs to preschool programs and kindergarten, (7) that effective community engagement strategies are employed to ensure diverse participation, (8) that biannual child assessments, approved by the office, are performed at programs, and conducted in partnership with families, and (9) collaboration with the office related to planning improvements to the state early care and education governance structure.
(f) The office shall monitor each local or regional governance partner to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 24-78, S. 27; P.A. 25-143, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 24-78 effective July 1, 2025; P.A. 25-143 replaced “partners” with “partner” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-550d. Early Start CT. Sliding fee scale. Not later than July 1, 2027, the Office of Early Childhood shall establish a sliding fee scale for families that are enrolled in an early care and education program under Early Start CT. Such sliding scale shall be based on family income and be consistent with the sliding fee scale used in the child care subsidy program described in section 17b-749.
(P.A. 24-78, S. 28; P.A. 25-143, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 24-78 effective July 1, 2025; P.A. 25-143 added a deadline of July 1, 2027, and replaced reference to Sec. 17b-249 with reference to Sec. 17b-749, effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-550g. Designated staff member and designated qualified staff member requirements. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Office of Early Childhood funded early care and education program” means an early care and education program that accepts state funds directly from the office or indirectly through office subcontractors, for any combination of infant, toddler and preschool, and any before and after school program for infant, toddler and preschool-age children, but does not include the child care subsidy program established pursuant to section 17b-749.
(2) “Designated staff member” means the person assigned the primary responsibility for a classroom of children in an Office of Early Childhood funded early care and education program.
(3) “Designated qualified staff member” means a designated staff member who possesses at least one of the following:
(A) A bachelor's degree or higher with a concentration in early childhood education from an institution of higher education that is (i) regionally accredited and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (ii) regionally accredited and working toward achieving accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, or (iii) regionally accredited;
(B) A certificate issued pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special education;
(C) Deemed to meet the bachelor's degree requirements by the office without a concentration in early childhood education, but with at least twelve early childhood credits from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited;
(D) A bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited, without a concentration in early childhood education, but with at least twelve applicable early childhood credits as determined by the office;
(E) Permission from the office if such designated staff member is enrolled in an institution of higher education and engaged in and making progress in an early childhood planned program of study leading to an early childhood bachelor's degree and under supervision in accordance with the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section.
(b) When a bachelor's degree designated qualified staff member is not assigned, a person may be deemed a designated qualified staff member if such person possesses at least one of the qualifications included in subsection (d) of this section and is under the supervision of an on-site staff member who is in a teacher or administrator role and meets the bachelor's degree or higher with a concentration in early childhood education requirement.
(c) In the case of a family child care home that is an Office of Early Childhood funded early care and education program, if the designated qualified staff member is working toward an early childhood associate degree or higher, such designated qualified staff member may be supervised by an individual from an off-site location who meets the bachelor's degree requirements for a designated qualified staff member and who provides coaching at the family child care home.
(d) The associate degree designated qualified staff member, under the supervision of a bachelor's degree qualified staff member, shall possess at least one of the following:
(1) An associate degree or higher with a concentration in early childhood education from an institution of higher education that is (A) regionally accredited and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (B) regionally accredited and working toward achieving accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, or (C) regionally accredited;
(2) Deemed to meet the associate degree requirements by the office without a concentration in early childhood education, but with at least twelve early childhood credits from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited;
(3) An associate degree from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited, without a concentration in early childhood education, but with at least twelve applicable early childhood credits as determined by the office;
(4) Permission from the office if such associate degree designated qualified staff member is enrolled in an institution of higher education and engaged in an early childhood planned program of study leading to an early childhood associate degree.
(e) (1) From July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, inclusive, twenty-five per cent of the designated staff members at each Office of Early Childhood funded early childhood education program shall be designated qualified staff members meeting one of the criteria at the bachelor's degree level. If the Office of Early Childhood funded early care and education program is a family child care home, the designated qualified staff member for such family child care home shall have achieved or be working toward an early childhood associate degree or higher.
(2) From July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2030, inclusive, fifty per cent of the designated qualified members at each Office of Early Childhood funded early childhood education program shall be designated qualified staff members meeting one of the criteria at the bachelor's degree level. If the Office of Early Childhood funded early care and education program is a family child care home, the designated qualified staff member for such family child care home shall have achieved or be working toward an early childhood associate degree or higher.
(3) On and after July 1, 2030, sixty per cent of the designated qualified staff members at each Office of Early Childhood funded child care program shall be designated qualified staff members meeting one of the criteria at the bachelor's degree level. If the Office of Early Childhood funded early care and education program is a family child care home, the designated qualified staff member for such family child care home shall have achieved or be working toward an early childhood associate degree or higher, except on and after July 1, 2035, the designated qualified staff member for such family child care home shall hold an early childhood associate degree or higher.
(P.A. 24-78, S. 31; P.A. 25-8, S. 5; 25-143, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 24-78 effective July 1, 2025; P.A. 25-8 made a technical change in Subsec. (d)(3), effective May 29, 2025; P.A. 25-143 redefined “Office of Early Childhood funded early care and education program” in Subsec. (a)(1) and “designated qualified staff member” in Subsec. (a)(3), replaced reference to supervision by a bachelor's degree designated qualified staff member with reference to a teacher or administrator with a bachelor's degree or higher in Subsec. (b), amended Subsec. (c) by deleting existing provisions re supervision of an associate degree designated qualified staff member by a bachelor's degree designated qualified staff member, adding provisions re supervision at a funded family child care home and redesignating existing provisions re qualifications of an associate degree designated qualified staff member as Subsec. (d), redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e) and amended same by replacing “or bachelor's degree” with “or higher” and adding requirement for designated qualified staff member at a family child care home to hold an associate degree on and after July 1, 2035, in Subdiv. (3), effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |