Governor M. Jodi Rell created the Early Childhood Research and Policy Council to develop a multi-year plan to shape Connnecticut's investment to improve school readiness for all children.

Quality Matters: Building a Quality Rating and Improvement System for Connecticut

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You're invited!

QRIS: Perspectives from Other States: May 20, 2008 and May 21, 2008

Representatives from Maine, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island will present on their states’ Quality Rating and Improvement Systems and discuss the design and implementation process for their state.

Date: Tuesday May 20, 2008
Time: 5:00 – 7:30 pm
Location: State Capitol Room 310: Hartford, CT

Date: Wednesday May 21, 2008
Time: 9:00 – 11:30am
Location: Inn at Middletown: Middletown, CT

Click here for more information

Click here to register


Public Forum: February 7, 2008

A Community Forum to launch the development of a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) was held on the morning of February 7, 2008. Anne Mitchell and Louise Stoney, co-founders of the Alliance for Early Childhood Finance and national experts on the development of ECE/CC quality rating and improvement systems, presented the purpose and basic components of a state QRIS, the experiences and choices made by other states and the benefits a QRIS can impart to children, families and the ECE community. A diverse assembly of 150 stakeholders had the opportunity to exchange ideas and information around the concept of a QRIS for Connecticut. For a summary of the input collected at the forum, click here.

Additional QRIS Forum Materials:

QRIS Work Group:

A QRIS Work Group (WG) under the auspices of the Early Childhood Research & Policy Council was convened to deliberate on the core components of a QRIS in the Connecticut context and provide recommendations to the Early Childhood Education Cabinet. The 26 members of the Work Group were selected to represent the diverse stakeholders and constituencies that will potentially participate in and benefit from a QRIS in Connecticut. Most Work Group members were present at the morning forum and continued to meet throughout the afternoon and all day on February 8 to begin the development process. For a list of QRIS WG Members, click here.

Progress Reports and Updates:



The Governor's Early Childhood Summit: Investing in the First 1,000 Days

On January 15, 2008, Governor M. Jodi Rell and the National Governor’s Association held a summit at Northeast Utilities to introduce the State’s first birth to three system framework: First Words, First Steps: Importance of the Early Years. The Summit hosted keynote speaker Dr. Jack P. Shonkoff, Professor of Child Health and Development and founder of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Additional speakers and panelists included Dr. Ardell Wilson of the State Department of Public Health, Elaine Zimmerman of the Commission on Children, Dr. Elsa Nunez of Eastern CT State University, Hon. Barbara Quinn of the Judicial Department, Commissioner Michael Starkowski of the State Department of Social Services, and Linda Kelly of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The event was coordinated by the Early Childhood Education Cabinet and the United Way of Connecticut.

To view the CT-N recording of the event, click here.

Related Summit Materials:

Resource Web-links:


Ready by 5 Fine by 9: Connecticut’s Early Childhood Investment Plan (Part I)

In the fall of 2006, the Early Childhood Research & Policy Council prepared the state's first Early Childhood Investment Plan based on the Investment Framework provided by the Early Childhood Education Cabinet. The Council delivered the summary of their recommendations to Governor M. Jodi Rell on December 8, 2006, which helped inform budget discussions this legislative session. This document is the full report of the Council.

Cabinet Presents to Appropriations Committee on Goal One (Ready by Five) RBA framework

On Tuesday, February 13, 2007, the Cabinet workgroup dedicated to ensuring “All Children Healthy and Ready for School Success by Age 5” made a presentation to the Appropriations Committee. For more information and links to the materials provided to the Committee, click here.

Governor M. Jodi Rell’s Budget Proposal Related to Early Education

New funds presented in Governor M. Jodi Rell’s Biennial Budget for State Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009 related to improving the school readiness of Connecticut’s young children total $18,801,507 in SFY 07-08 and $44,905,412 in SFY 08-09.
Download the document

FY08/FY09 Early Childhood Investment Plan Recommendations Summary

The Council has produced a summary of their early childhood investment plan recommendations to be submitted to the Governor by December 8th.

Presentation to the CT Legislative Select Committee on Children, January 25, 2007

Ready by 5, Fine by 9: Connecticut’s Early Childhood Investment Plan at the Crossroads
Download

PreK Now broadcast with Governor Rell

View PreK Now's national broadcast on early childhood on September 20th.
Including an interview with Governor Rell.

Agendas & Minutes


Upcoming Events

View the calendar of upcoming meetings and events.

2006 Council Work Plan

At its first meeting on February 27, 2006, the Governor asked the Early Childhood Research and Policy Council to take lead responsibility for creation of the Early Childhood Investment Plan.
Download

Top Ten Priority Briefs

Download all papers.

View individual papers.


Values, Goals, and Priorities

Framework Core Values, Goals and Ten Immediate Priorities from Connecticut’s Early Childhood Investment Framework. Download