NARA releases 27-page report on DPH survey.  Report states that child care licensing "lacks consistency."  Click here to read the report...

Sources: 
http://www.ct.gov/oec/lib/oec/licensing/nara/nara_finalreport.pdf
 
As reported on Thursday, December 19th, during a meeting of the Early Childhood Education Cabinet, Connecticut was denied on its third attempt to secure grant funding thru the federal Race to the Top program.  Much of the CT application focused on the development of the QRIS rating system for child care providers.  No news has been shared yet explaining how the rating system may develop without the grant funding. 

Sources:
http://www.ctmirror.org/story/2013/12/20/connecticuts-early-education-plan-gets-c-no-federal-funds
 
CT submits application for federal Race to the Top Grant, including proposal for development of QRIS system.

Check out the application document below for details.
ct_race_to_the_top_final_narrative.pdf
File Size: 7757 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

 
The CT Early Childhood Education Cabinet QRIS Workgroup held a stakeholder comment meeting to review proposed rating standards.  We attended the meeting.  Check out our summary and call to action on our blog here http://www.ctcca.org/1/post/2013/09/qris-call-to-action.html.

Sources:
http://www.ctearlychildhood.org/qris.html
 
Affordable Care Act delays the "Employer Mandate" until 2015.  Employers of more than 50 employees have been given another year to navigate the mandate that they provide approved levels of insurance to their employees at rates defined as affordable.

Sources: 
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/obamacare-provision-postponed-93677.html?hp=l1
 
Gov. Dannel Malloy names Myra Taylor-Jones as the executive director for the newly created Office of Early Childhood.
 
Sources:
http://www.ctmirror.org/political-mirror/2013/06/25/leader-named-new-office-early-childhood
 
 
On Monday, June 24, 2014, Gov. Malloy signed an executive order that created the Office of Early Childhood.  The State legislature failed to create the office through legislative means despite allocating funds for its operations through the budget.

Sources:
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/malloy_will_sign_executive
_order_creating_early_childhood_office
 
To: The General Assembly Committee on Public Health
Date: Thursday February 26, 2013

Testimony on behalf of the Connecticut Child Care Association (CCCA) in support  of the passage of Proposed Senate Bill 298: An Act Concerning Renewal Applications for Daycare Licenses.

Chairpersons and Members of the Public Health Committee,  

The CT Child Care Association strongly endorses the passage of Senate Bill 298. Any number of valid, unfortunate circumstances may arise that might lead to a child care facility inadvertently missing the deadline for a re-licensing application.  Allowing a 30 day grace period provides a short, but appropriate window of forgiveness to give centers the chance to maintain their licensing and continue running high quality programs for children. 

To give a brief example, illness or injury to a center director that is in charge of licensing procedures would mean that an application may have to be turned in late. This bill would simply allow extenuating circumstances to be remediated and centers to not fall short of licensing. 

We thank you for your consideration of our concerns and ask that you act favorably on this proposal.
 
In an unusual move for the region, the school board for the town of Farmington has said “no” to move to a full day kindergarten program.  Despite the recent implementation of full day kindergarten by Region 10 and Simsbury, the board declined the option for Farmington citing already strong test scores by its students.  Though parents had expressed an interest in the expansion, the board was unable to justify the cost against the belief of limited benefit. 
  
Sources:  
http://www.courant.com/community/farmington/hc-farmington-all-day-kindergarten-20121113,0,7806695.story
 
CREC will break ground on seven new magnet schools in the greater Hartford area over the next two years.  Sites include Enfield, South Windsor, Avon, New Britain, Windsor and Wethersfield.  These magnet schools are in addition to sites that opened this past summer in Glastonbury/East Hartford and Bloomfield. 


Sources:
http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120903/PRINTEDITION/308319972/0/PRINTEDITIONDATES