In March 2023, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order 23-1, appointing a diverse Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care and charging the panel with the development of “a five-year strategic plan for Connecticut that supports [family, business and early childhood provider] needs and prioritizes equitable access to early care and education.”
Since last March, the panel has traveled across Connecticut, meeting with key stakeholders to come up with a plan that touches on four interconnected goals:
Goal 1
- Workforce and Quality - Invest in and support the retention and recruitment of a professional, high-quality ECE workforce, and program supports and standards that increase the number of high-quality settings.
Goal 2
- Equitable and Affordable Access - Increase equitable and affordable access to high-quality programs that meet a range of family needs.
Goal 3
- Systems - Develop an agile, flexible, and responsive high-quality ECE system that maximizes current resources and supports economically viable programs.
Goal 4
- Funding - Build a well-funded, sustainable ECE funding system that is poised to efficiently leverage future investment.
Governor Lamont will present the legislature with the Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care's report when we return in less than two weeks.
Connecticut is home to 181,607 children under the age of five. Approximately 73% of these children (132,573) have all available parents participating in the workforce, making the accessibility of high-quality, affordable childcare a matter of importance for all. Childcare and early education programs make up an industry that supports all other industries.
WNPR's The Wheelhouse devoted a full show to childcare and the report findings on Wednesday - click HERE to listen. To read the Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care report, click HERE. |