Sec. 10-550a. (Note: This section is effective July 1, 2025.) Early Start CT. Responsibilities.

(1) Provide open access for infants and toddlers and preschool-age children to high-quality early care and education programs that promote the health and safety of children and prepare them for school; (2) Provide opportunities for parents to choose among affordable and accredited early care and education programs; (3) Encourage coordination and cooperation among early care and education programs and prevent the duplication of services; (4) Identify the specific service needs and unique resources available to particular municipalities; (5) Prevent or minimize the potential for developmental delay in children prior to their reaching the age of five; (6) Strengthen the family through: (A) Encouragement of family engagement and partnership in a child's development and education, and (B) enhancement of a family's capacity to meet the special needs of the children, including children with disabilities; (7) Reduce educational costs by decreasing the need for special education services for school-age children; (8) Assure that children with disabilities are integrated into early care and education programs available to children who do not have disabilities; (9) Improve the availability and quality of Early Start CT programs and their coordination with the services of child care providers; (10) Facilitate the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the children, families and staff in early care and education programs; and (11) Maximize local and federal early care and education funding to expand capacity and access.