On February 5, Governor Ned Lamont presented a historic proposal for expanding preschool access, marking the largest early childhood investment in Connecticut’s history. Over the next few months, the Legislature will review this proposal and consider additional funding for infant and toddler programs, positioning Connecticut as a national leader in early childhood education (ECE).
Thanks to your support, SIP has played a key role in advocating for this exciting investment. The Governor’s plan includes a $1 billion Universal Preschool Endowment (UPE) to create 20,000 new preschool spaces by 2032. Key elements include:
- Free preschool for families earning up to $100,000
- A cost-share of up to $20/day for families earning $100,000-$150,000
- An increase in accessible, high-quality ECE services
SIP has played an instrumental role in advancing this proposal over the past five years alongside the Governor, the Commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood (OEC), the Child Care for CT advocacy coalition and through our direct engagement with early childhood education programs across the state.
We are energized by the Governor’s commitment to ECE and excited about the potential impact on families statewide. However, this is just the beginning. As we move forward, we remain deeply grateful for your ongoing support, expertise, and enthusiasm in implementing this plan, expanding ECE programs and ensuring that every child has equitable access to a high-quality education.