Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Adding 1,000 Early Childhood Education Spaces in January – CT.GOV-Connecticut’s Official State Website (.gov)

Connecticut’s Early Start Program Expansion and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The State of Connecticut has announced a significant expansion of its Early Start CT program, scheduled for January 2026. This initiative introduces up to 1,000 new early childhood education spaces and increases provider payments by 8%. The expansion is a direct investment in achieving several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Quality Education (SDG 4), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).

Program Details and Strategic Objectives

Key Expansion Metrics

• New Spaces: Up to 1,000 new early childhood education and care spaces will be created by January 2026.
• Provider Support: A payment rate increase of 8% will be implemented to assist providers with operational costs and enhance staff compensation, allocating $10 million to support the early care workforce.
• Funding: The expansion is financed by the Connecticut Early Childhood Education Endowment, established to support the largest expansion of such services in the state’s history.
• Administration: The program is administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

Financial Commitment

The OEC will award up to $19 million to child care providers through state contracts for the period of January 2026 through June 30, 2027. This funding is designed to strengthen the early care and education business model across the state.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4: Quality Education

This initiative directly addresses Target 4.2, which aims to ensure that all children have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education. By expanding Early Start CT, the state provides a foundational learning environment, preparing children for future academic and professional success.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The program is structured to reduce socio-economic disparities. A core requirement is that 60% of enrolled families must have an income at or below 75% of the state median income. This focus ensures that children from lower-income households gain access to the same high-quality educational opportunities, promoting equity from the earliest stages of life.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The expansion supports economic growth through a dual approach. Firstly, it enables parents and guardians to participate more fully in the workforce, boosting the state’s economy. Secondly, the 8% increase in provider payment rates directly supports the early childhood workforce, promoting better recruitment, retention, and compensation, which aligns with the goal of decent work for all.

SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

By providing accessible and affordable child care, the program empowers families, particularly women, to secure and maintain employment. This contributes to increased household income, directly combating poverty (SDG 1) and advancing women’s economic empowerment and participation in the labor force (SDG 5).

Implementation and Provider Requirements

Application Process

The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) will launch a Request for Applications (RFA) for child care providers. The application will be open to a wide range of providers, including child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and public school preschool classrooms.

Provider Eligibility and Mandates

1. Programs awarded Early Start CT spaces must participate in Elevate, the state’s quality improvement system.
2. Participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is required, although a waiver option is available.
3. Providers must ensure that at least 60% of enrolled families meet the income eligibility threshold of being at or below 75% of the state median income.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Connecticut’s expansion of the Early Start CT program addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on early childhood education, economic support for families and workers, and reducing inequality.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  This is the most prominent SDG addressed. The entire initiative is centered on expanding access to early childhood education. The article states the goal is to enable “more families to have access to early childhood education and child care” and describes it as the “largest expansion of early childhood education services in Connecticut history.”

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The program is explicitly linked to economic outcomes. It aims to enable “parents to participate in the workforce,” which supports economic growth. Furthermore, it addresses decent work for childcare professionals by increasing “provider payments… by 8% to support… increased staff compensation,” which helps “recruit and retain early care and education professionals.”

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The program is designed to reduce inequality by targeting specific populations. It is for “income-eligible families,” and the article specifies that “Sixty percent of families enrolled in Early Start CT must have an income that is at or below 75% percent of the state median income (SMI) level.” This ensures that access to quality education is not limited by a family’s economic status.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  By providing affordable and accessible childcare, the program directly supports low-income families. This service reduces a significant financial burden and enables parents to secure or maintain employment, which are crucial factors in poverty reduction. The focus on “income-eligible families” reinforces this connection.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  Although not explicitly stated, expanding access to childcare is a key policy for advancing gender equality. The burden of unpaid care work, including childcare, disproportionately falls on women, often limiting their ability to participate in the workforce. By providing public support for childcare, the program helps to alleviate this burden, thereby promoting women’s economic empowerment and participation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The article’s details align with several specific SDG targets:

1. Target 4.2: Ensure access to early childhood development and pre-primary education

   This target aims to “ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education.” The article directly supports this by announcing the addition of “up to 1,000 new spaces in the state’s Early Start CT program,” which provides “early care and education program for… infants, toddlers, preschool, and school-age children.”

2. Target 8.5: Achieve full employment and decent work for all

   This target calls for “full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.” The article connects to this by stating the program “enables parents to participate in the workforce.” It also addresses the “decent work” aspect for educators by increasing provider payments to “raise staff compensation in efforts to better recruit and retain early care and education professionals.”

3. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all

   This target aims to “empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.” The program’s eligibility criteria, which mandate that a majority of enrolled families must be at or below 75% of the state median income, directly works to promote the inclusion of lower-income families in essential early education services.

4. Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work

   This target focuses on recognizing unpaid care work “through the provision of public services.” The Early Start CT program, funded by the “Connecticut Early Childhood Education Endowment,” is a public service that directly addresses the need for childcare, thus valuing and supporting the care work that is often performed unpaid within the family.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article contains several specific, quantifiable indicators that can be used to measure progress.

• Indicator for Target 4.2:

  A direct indicator is the number of new childcare spaces created. The article explicitly states the program is “adding up to 1,000 new spaces.” This is a clear metric for measuring the expansion of access to early childhood education.

• Indicators for Target 8.5:

  Two indicators are mentioned. First, the percentage increase in provider payment rates, which is specified as an “8% increase.” Second, an implied indicator is the change in compensation for early educators, as the article notes the funds can be used to “raise staff compensation.”

• Indicator for Target 10.2:

  A precise indicator for measuring the focus on reducing inequality is the proportion of enrolled families from lower-income brackets. The article provides a clear metric: “Sixty percent of families enrolled in Early Start CT must have an income that is at or below 75% percent of the state median income (SMI) level.”

• Indicator for Target 5.4:

  The amount of public funding allocated to childcare services serves as an indicator of the state’s commitment. The article mentions the state will “award up to $19 million to child care providers” and that the expansion is funded by the “Connecticut Early Childhood Education Endowment,” signifying a concrete financial investment.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: portal.ct.gov