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There are just over 220,000 children in CT under the age of five. Nearly 12,000 live in extreme poverty (less than 50% of the Federal Poverty Level).
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Archive: By Author >
On the Record: Archive By Author
"School readiness produces a higher quality education ..."
"School readiness produces a higher quality education and greater achievement for individual students. Effective pre-school readiness programs improve total school performance, lead to broad-based achievement gains and reduce long-term remediation and special education expenses."
SACIA, The Business Council, July 2002
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"If Connecticut wishes to remain competitive, there is no room for our children to fail."
"“If Connecticut wishes to remain competitive, there is no room for our children to fail. An early childhood focus offers positive long term results with a cost savings…The Business Advisory Committee recommends increased preschool programs for three- and four-year olds and full-day kindergarten for all children who need optimal learning environments while their parents are working.”"
David Carson, CEO, Peoples Bank
Published in the CT State Budget, 1992
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"An early childhood focus offers positive long term results with a cost savings ..."
"If Connecticut wishes to remain competitive, there is no room for our children to fail. An early childhood focus offers positive long term results with a cost savings….The Business Advisory Committee recommends increased preschool programs for three- and four-year olds and full-day kindergarten for all children who need optimal learning environments while their parents are working."
David Carson, CEO People’s Bank, 1992
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"Just as secondary school students must be prepared to enter college..."
""Just as secondary school students must be prepared to enter college, so must pre-school students be prepared to enter elementary school. Success at each level depends critically on skills that should have been learned earlier in life.""
William Cibes
Chancellor, CT State University System
December 2004
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"Children who start school behind their peers are unlikely to catch up ..."
"Children who start school behind their peers are unlikely to catch up. Children who enter kindergarten with limited words … are the most likely to develop later reading difficulties and require remedial education."
Committee on Economic Development, 2002
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"A Rising Child Lifts All Boats"
"Changing public policy is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference for the 37,000 under age five who live in the region served by The Community Foundation. Many of the kids who
enter kindergarten unprepared for the work ahead will struggle to catch up ... Ready, Set, Grow—CT Kids! is poised to do more, but needs your help."
[Full text]
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, New Haven Register, April 21 & 28, 2004
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"CBIA recognizes importance of quality pre-k."
"In March the CBIA board adopted a resolution urging the state to make additional education reforms. The board expressed concern “that Connecticut has not focused sufficient attention and resources on raising the bar for all students and that current policies have not substantially closed the achievement gap for urban poor and minority students ...”
The board directed CBIA to run a full-page ad in the state’s major newspapers advocating these reforms:
Ensure that quality preschool and full-day kindergarten programs exist for all at-risk students in Connecticut’s priority school districts, as proposed by the governor, to give them an effective start in school."
[Full text]
Connecticut Business and Industry Association, NEWS May 2006 — Vol. 84, No. 4
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"Recognizing the integral link between young children's academic failure and later incarceration..."
"Recognizing the integral link between young children's academic failure and later incarceration, the CT Juvenile Justice Alliance endorses the public goal of the CT Early Childhood Alliance.
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Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, November 5, 2003
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"I will advocate children's rights and opportunities . . ."
"I will advocate children's rights and opportunities in my new position as chairman of Connecticut's Select Committee on Children."
[Full text]
Connecticut State Senator Edward Meyer; Connecicut's Select Committee on Children, chairman
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"The School Readiness program rewards the hard work of the students..."
""The School Readiness program rewards the hard work of the students, encourages their innate curiosity and leads them to a road of success. It also rewards the hard work of the teachers and administrators of the school with tangible, verifiable results.""
Senator Thomas Gaffey, Co-Chair, Education Committee
CT General Assembly, January 2001
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"The futures of our children living and learning in poverty"
""The futures of our children living and learning in poverty are closely tied to our state’s future….they are Connecticut’s workforce of tomorrow. They are our knowledge assets. Our skilled workforce has always given Connecticut its edge. To be sure that all Connecticut learners bring the necessary skills and talent to our knowledge economy jobs, we must invest in early childhood education so that all students come to kindergarten prepared to learn. We must do all that we can to ensure that our students have a strong grounding from K-16 in science, math and technology as well as in writing and communication.”
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Judith B. Greiman, President,
CT Conference of Independent Colleges
December 2004
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"On August 17th, 2004 the great State of Connecticut took another giant step forward..."
"On August 17th, 2004 the great State of Connecticut took another giant step forward in making readiness for school an opportunity accessible to all of its children. Our new Governor, M. Jodi Rell, spoke with superintendents, other educational professionals at the state and local level, and to Connecticut’s broadcast media, to announce her commitment in making Connecticut the “best in class” in terms of preschool education. "
[Full text]
Janice M. Gruendel, PhD; Senior Advisor for Early Childhood, Governor’s Office, State of Connecticut; Remarks at the School Readiness Indicators Forum: Getting to Great; September 21, 2004
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"There is a growing movement among folks like us..."
"There is a growing movement among folks like us to send a clear and loud message to policy
makers in Connecticut that we want all of our young children to come to the kindergarten door
healthy, eager to learn and ready for school success… and that we expect our state and local
leaders to invest our resources to accomplish this, beginning now, with children that are born in 2004."
[Full text]
Janice Gruendel, National Conference for Community and Justice Quarterly Forum, "Achieving Equitable Education for All Students:
Legal, Institutional and Activist Strategies," April 30, 2004
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"Yes, this is our moment. This is our time."
"Yes, this is our moment. This is our time.
The people of Connecticut, and history, will judge us by whether we accepted our stewardship simply to preserve the comfortable status quo or whether we seized it with boldness of purpose.
I, for one, am emboldened. "
[Full text]
Governor M. Jodi Rell; State of the State Address; January 5, 2005
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"We know children will succeed better in school when they are healthy and ready to learn."
"By strengthening supports for children before they get to school, this collaborative will save the town valuable taxpayer dollars in future education costs."
[Full text]
First Selectman John Opie (Branford), December 1, 2004
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"Judge Mack on Early Childhood"
"... we have a moral, a
social and an economic imperative to help the newest generation of very young
children ..."
[Full text]
Michael Mack, Chief Administrative Judge for Juvenile Matters, CT Superior
Court, December 2004
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"Providing high quality preschool programs..."
""Providing high quality preschool programs is probably one of the most effective things we can do to ensure the future success of children's K-12 educational experience. Not only will their lives be more fulfilling, but they will become important contributors to Connecticut's economy and social fabric.""
David Larson, Executive Director
CT Association of Public School Superintendents
December 2004
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"The future of our country depends on what we can achieve for all our children ..."
"The future of our country depends on what we can achieve for all our children. Ours must be a mission to build a movement in behalf of every child. Ours is a cause that is moral, is right, is vital and, yes, it truly could be done. That depends on you and me."
[Full text]
David Lawrence, President, Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, "Closing the Achievement Gaps" Forum, November 20, 2003
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"In this age of fractured families..."
"“In this age of fractured families, of abject poverty, we have a moral, a social and an economic imperative to help the newest generation of very young children to overcome the obstacles we placed in front of generations past. The solution is difficult and expensive. But the overall benefit to society for years to come will be immeasurably positive. If we do not consider mandatory formal education for all of our children beginning from age three, we are condemned to repeat the formula that brought us to where we are today.”
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The Hon. Michael Mack
Chief Administrative Judge for Juvenile Matters
CT Superior Court
December 2004
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"The first five years of a child's life are a critical time."
""The first five years of a child's life are a critical time. Quality experiences, both inside and outside the home, can mean all the difference in setting the stage for a life of success. A child who comes to kindergarten recognizing letters of the alphabet, numbers and shapes has a better foundation than a child who has had none of those early experiences. In New Haven, we will continue to work diligently to provide that important first foundation.""
Reginald Mayo
New Haven Superintendent of Schools
November 2004
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"If our children are to compete in the competitive world they will be entering,"
"“If our children are to compete in the competitive world they will be entering, they must have access to the best education we can provide. Preschool education is crucial to ensuring that our children come to the public schools ready to learn and is crucial for their later academic success. Let’s make sure every needy child has the opportunity to benefit from high quality preschool programs.”"
Robert Rader
Executive Director, CT Association of Boards of Education
December 2004
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"The first five years of a child's life are a critical time."
"The first five years of a child's life are a critical time. Quality experiences, both inside and outside the home, can mean all the difference in setting the stage for a life of success. A child who comes to kindergarten recognizing letters of the alphabet, numbers and shapes has a better foundation than a child who has had none of those early experiences. In New Haven, we will continue to work diligently to provide that important first foundation."
[Full text]
Reginald Mayo, Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools, Hartford Courant, November 23, 2004
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"This is our time. Yes, this is our moment."
"“This is our time. Yes, this is our moment. The people of Connecticut, and history, will judge us by whether we accepted our stewardship simply to preserve the comfortable status quo or whether we seized it with boldness of purpose. I, for one, am emboldened.”
"
Governor M. Jodi Rell
State of Connecticut
January 2005
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"The goal we must strive for is to make certain that every child in Connecticut has the opportunity to attend a pre-school program."
"Governor Rell told public school superintendents from around the state attending the annual summit that, 'It is critical that our children are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. We know that long-term academic success depends largely on the experiences children have in the first few years of their lives.' ... 'The goal we must strive for,' the Governor said, 'is to make certain that every child in Connecticut has the opportunity to attend a pre-school program.'"
[Full text]
Governor M. Jodi Rell, "Gov. Rell Acts to Expand Preschool Opportunities" press release, August 17, 2004
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"It is critical that our children are ready to learn..."
"“It is critical that our children are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. We know that long-term academic success depends largely on the experiences children have in the first few years of their lives.' ... 'The goal we must strive for is to make certain that every child in Connecticut has the opportunity to attend a pre-school program.'" "
Governor M. Jodi Rell
Back to School Summit
August 2004
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"Connecticut must have a base of skilled, lifelong learners because work matters."
"Connecticut must have a base of skilled, lifelong learners because work matters. We need a base of self-sufficient earners, because economic capacity matters. We need contributing citizens because democracy matters. …"
[Full text]
Lt. Governor M. Jodi Rell.
ECE and Economics Forum
Fairfield University School of Management
January 2004
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"We can’t afford NOT to make preschool learning a priority ..."
"We can't afford not to make preschool learning a priority. Achievement gap, preparation gap, call it what you will, it's real, it's hurting our children, and it's unacceptable. We need to set a new direction, a new course... [and] providing coordinated, affordable, effective pre-school is
essential to ensuring success.
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Lieutenant Governor M. Jodi Rell, "Closing the Achievement Gaps" Forum, November 20, 2003
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"2004 is the year to make the plans for the learning success of our young children..."
"2004 is the year to make the plans for the
learning success of our young children…to know
what the basis of estimating the costs and the
true needs will be… a plan that carefully gives us the cost estimate and the options that will allow us to make the best, effective policy choices in the long run."
[Full text]
M. Jodi Rell, CT governor as of July 2004, "Economic Development Through Early Childhood Investment" Forum, Fairfield, CT, January 23, 2004
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"...my venture capitalist buddies would jump at 16% real rate of return..."
"It seemed that it was obvious that early childhood development was worthy of study, and my guess was there was a pretty high return...We find that the interest rate was 16%, inflation adjusted or what economists call a “real rate of return”. I can tell you, my venture capitalist buddies would jump at 16% real rate of return. When we broke it up, roughly 4% went to the individual because they ended up with a better job and 12% was public return because these kids start school ready for kindergarten, are less likely to need special ed, and less likely to be disruptive."
[Full text]
Art Rolnick, Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, "Economic Development Through Early Childhood Investment" Forum, Fairfield, CT, January 23, 2004
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"...any proposed economic development list should have early childhood development at the top"
"Early childhood development programs are rarely portrayed as economic development initiatives, and we think that is a mistake…in the future any proposed economic development list should have early childhood development at the top. The return on investment from early childhood development is extraordinary, resulting in better working public schools, more educated workers and less crime."
[Full text]
Art Rolnick and Rob Grunewald, "Early Childhood Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return," Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank, March 2003
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"Child care is a concern for many Connecticut families ..."
"Child care is a concern for many Connecticut families. Parents must rely on child care arrangements in order to work, and their choice of arrangement can affect the health, safety and development of their children. This issue has become important to policymakers who are increasingly aware of its impact on working families and their children as well as on the state’s economy at large."
Governor John Rowland, The Status of Child Care in CT, January 2001
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" ... We want to reach every child ... to help all our children achieve academic success."
"Where [do] we want to be? ... We want to close the performance gap for all groups of students. Most important, we want to reach every child ... to help all our children achieve academic success."
Governor John Rowland, CABE Journal, December 1999
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"School readiness produces a higher quality education..."
""School readiness produces a higher quality education and greater achievement for individual students. Effective pre-school readiness programs improve total school performance, lead to broad-based achievement gains and reduce long-term remediation and special education expenses." "
SACIA, The Business Council of Fairfield County,
July 2002
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"Closing the achievement gap is the issue of the decade."
"“Only 25% of Connecticut’s Hispanic and black students performed at the 4th grade mastery level on the 2002 CT Mastery Tests as compared with 70% of white students. Boys scored lower than girls, and while 61% of all 6th graders met the state goal in math, only 33% of low-income students did so…Closing the achievement gap is the issue of the decade.”"
Commissioner Ted Sergi,
CT State Department of Education,
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"Closing the achievement gap is the issue of the decade."
Commissioner of Education Ted Sergi, Hartford Courant, October 2002
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"...lead the fight for universal early childhood education."
"As a Children's Champion, I pledge to lead the fight at the state capitol for universal early childhood education."
[Full text]
CT State Rep. Cam Staples (D-New Haven); October 1, 2004
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"Learning Initiatives for Excellence: Superintendents' Back-to-School Address"
"[T]he knowledge and skills children – particularly economically disadvantaged children – acquire from a high-quality preschool are arguably the most important factors in a child’s success in school. Without them, a child starts kindergarten behind others who have had that advantage, and hardly ever catches up. "
[Full text]
Commissioner Betty Sternberg, Connecticut Department of Education; Learning Initiatives for Excellence: Superintendents' Back-to-School Address; August 17, 20004.
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"[T]he knowledge and skills children...acquire..."
""[T]he knowledge and skills children – particularly economically disadvantaged children – acquire from a high-quality preschool are arguably the most important factors in a child’s success in school. Without them, a child starts kindergarten behind others who have had that advantage, and hardly ever catches up." "
Commissioner of Education Betty Sternberg
Back to School Summit
August 2002
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"I am pleased to tell you that I have signed on as a Friend"
"I am pleased to tell you that I have signed on as a Friend ... I testify regularly in Hartford in support of a wide range of issues facing young children and their families."
[Full text]
Middletown Mayor Domenique Thornton, "Week of the Young Child" press release, April 16, 2004
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"Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance..."
"Article 25.(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection."
[Full text]
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, General Assembly of the United Nations, 1948
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"We're proud of the investment we've made in early childhood..."
""We're proud of the investment we've made in early childhood and will continue our commitment to children.""
Representative Robert Ward, House Minority Leader,
CT General Assembly, January 2001
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