Superintendent Karen Loiselle announced earlier this month the acquisition of the grant from the Connecticut Department of Education, making it the largest in Colchester public school history.

Starting this year, 11 Connecticut school districts will receive $107,000 a year for five years to enhance local school readiness programs.

The state grant dwarfs the next-largest grant Colchester public schools has ever received: A $334,000 physical education grant awarded in 2003 by the U.S. Department of Education.

"This is the start of a thrilling initiative," Loiselle said to the council Monday night at Bacon Academy High School. "This is such a necessary area, and we've waited a long time for this opportunity."

According to the state Department of Education, the grant was established in 1997 to create school readiness programs in "severe needs" areas in Connecticut.

Of the 169 municipalities in the state, Colchester ranked this year among the 50 lowest in terms of "wealth status," making it eligible for the grant. Loiselle said the percentage of Colchester children attending preschool is roughly 12 percent lower than the state average.

Grant recipients will use the funds to create added capacity in nationally-accredited school readiness programs within their towns, including preschools, Head Start programs and state-funded day cares.

Elizabeth Aschenbrenner, director of early childhood initiatives at EASTCONN, told the council the grant presents a "community initiative to help develop a comprehensive strategy for young children.

"One important point is that some families who could not afford to pay (for school readiness programs) were not getting access," Aschenbrenner said. "Not being able to pay should not be a barrier to preschool. And if we look at the research, families should really have access to it."

The grant is also used to maximize development in young children and assure disabled children the chance to participate in programs with non-disabled children.

Kathy Slade, mother of a 3-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter enrolled at Jack Jackter Elementary School, said she attended the meeting because she is concerned about early education.

"I'm excited and thrilled to see the grant go through, both privately as a mother and for the public schools, because I know early education is very important," Slade said.