Weekly Digest: May 14, 2009

Public Hearings on Childcare Services in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) Family Services & Child Care Team, in collaboration with the State Child Day Care Council is convening three public hearings to provide Connecticut residents with an opportunity to comment on child care services in Connecticut.  DSS must prepare the state’s Child Care Plan to access federal funds. The plan must be submitted to Washington, D.C. by July 1, 2009.  Please share this schedule with others.  The draft plan will be available after May 11, 2009 on the DSS website at http://www.ct.gov/dss/site/default.asp  Go to Publications (top of the page) and click on CT Draft Federal Plan 2009-2011.

To submit written comments: send email to julie.bisi@ct.gov or mail to ATTN: Child Care Division – CCDF Plan, Connecticut Department of Social Services, 25 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT 06106. 

Meeting Dates, Times and Locations

• NEW HAVEN  Wednesday, May 13, 2009 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.  Sponsored by LULAC Head Start located at 250 Cedar Street, New Haven.  The phone number is (203) 777-4006.
• NORWICH  Monday, May 18, 2009 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.  Sponsored by Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA), located at the Community Room, Uncas on Thames Campus 401 West Thames St., Bldg 301, Norwich.  The phone number is (860) 859-4500.
• NEW BRITAIN  Wednesday, May 20, 2009 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.  Sponsored by “New Initiatives That Help Connecticut Babies and Toddlers Grow and Develop” Research and Education Center for the Hospital for Special Care located at 370 Osgood Avenue (corner of Corbin) in the Auditorium, New Britain.  The phone number is (860) 223-2761.

Majority of Governors are Increasing or Protecting Pre-K (CT is Proposing to Cut Spending)

Pre-K Now has released a national analysis of state-funded preschool, finding as governors confront the fiscal crisis, the majority of them are either increasing or protecting their state's investments in pre-K for the coming fiscal year.

Highlights of the analysis:
• Fourteen governors are proposing to increase pre-K funding.
• Thirteen are proposing to flat fund early education.
• Governors of three states with no public pre-K are proposing new programs.
• Five governors are proposing to cut pre-K funding. (Connecticut is among the five states)
• Total proposed state investment in pre-K for FY 2010 is four percent greater than FY 2009 appropriations.

This report can be found on the Pre-K Now website at http://preknow.org/documents/LeadershipReport_May2009.pdf

Briefs on Aligning Pre-K and K-12 Systems

In a series of briefs, FirstSchool spells out the critical elements of an early education system that is fully aligned with the K-12 system.  The briefs illuminate strategies that effectively support alignment from pre-K through third grade -- everything from financing tactics, and physical design of the classroom to the use of time during the school day.

Briefs Include:

Financing Services for 3-and 4-Year Olds in a P–3 School discusses the local, state and federal funding streams that support pre-kindergarten programs.

FirstSchool Learning Environments: Supporting Relationships describes how a well-designed school setting can encourage the development of positive relationships, maximize children’s learning opportunities, and promote health and wellness for all members of the school community. 

Using Developmental Science to Transform Children's Early School Experiences describes seven ways teaching practices would change if schools employed a pre-K to 3 approach.

Time is of the Essence describes how school improvement efforts in the United States could focus on rethinking the use of time and organizing the school day. 

Issues in Education for Children Three to Eight in Six Countries profiles how the United States, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and Sweden have grappled with delivering, governing, and financing early education.

These briefs can be downloaded from the FirstSchool website at http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~firstschool/index.cfm