(Formerly Sec. 17-605). Family resource center program. Guidelines for programs. Study. Grants.

(b) The Department of Education, in consultation with representatives from family resource centers, within available appropriations, shall develop guidelines for family resource center programs. The guidelines shall include standards for program quality and design and identify short and long-term outcomes for families participating in such programs. The Department of Education, within available appropriations, shall provide a copy of such guidelines to each family resource center. Each family resource center shall use the guidelines to develop a program improvement plan for the next twelve-month period and shall submit the plan to the department. The plan shall include goals to be used for measuring such improvement. The department shall use the plan to monitor the progress of the center. Family resource centers in existence on July 1, 1997, shall be given a preference for grants for school readiness awarded by the Department of Education or the Department of Social Services and for financing pursuant to sections 10a-194c , 17b-749g and 17b-749h . (c) The Department of Education, within available appropriations, shall provide for a longitudinal study of family resource centers every three years. (d) The Commissioner of Education may provide grants to municipalities, boards of education and child care providers to carry out the purposes of subsection (a) of this section. Each family resource center shall have a program administrator who has at least two years of experience in child care, public administration or early childhood education and a master's degree in child development, early childhood education or a related field. (e) The Commissioner of Education may accept and receive on behalf of the department or any family resource center, subject to section 4b-22 , any bequest, devise or grant made to the department or any family resource center for the purpose of establishing a new family resource center or expanding an existing center, and may hold and use such property for the purpose specified in such bequest, devise or gift. See Sec. 4b-31a re plan for colocation of family resource centers and school-based health clinics.