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"The brain develops to 90%
of its capacity in the first five years of a
child’s life."
-- From the December 2004 edition of the
Commission newsletter, "School Readiness and
Early Reading Success" |
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First Words, First
Steps: The Importance of the Early Years
What policies
should Connecticut follow to promote the health and
education of infants and toddlers? The Commission on
Children and Department of Social Services (DSS) are working
on a document answering that question.
Download the February 4, 2008 draft (PDF, 34
pages) |
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Connecticut Summit on
the Early Years
On October 29, 2007, the
Commission held a
summit where experts discussed the latest advances in neuroscience,
molecular biology, genetics, and other areas of
research in early childhood development -- all with an eye toward using
them as the basis for public policy in Connecticut.
Get summit materials here |
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UCLA's Halfon discusses
the importance of early childhood development
Dr. Neal Halfon, director of the UCLA Center for Healthier
Children, Families and Communities, spoke about early childhood development
(ECD) at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on
October 1. "The evidence for increasing our investments in
ECD is overwhelming and growing," Dr. Halfon said, adding
that such investments will go a long way in determining the
future wealth of our nation. His visit was sponsored by the Commission and the
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
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Commission hosts visit
by Singapore officials
Curious to know how Connecticut addresses early childhood
development, delegates from the government of Singapore toured
several facilities in Norwalk on July 24, 2007, as guests of the
Commission on Children. Read more |
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Improving Children’s Social and Emotional
Development
Commission on
Children Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman was one of three
presenters at a May 17 audio and Web conference entitled, "School
Readiness and Success: Improving Children's Social and Emotional
Development." Visit this page |
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Every Grownup Is a
Famous Storyteller
This booklet, created by the Commission and sponsored by the
state Department of Education, uses a photo exhibit to make
basic points about the importance of reading to children.
Introduction by Dr. Alice S. Carter of Yale University's
Department of Psychology.
Download the PDF |
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Building a Bridge from
Birth to School: A Presentation by Dr. Neal Halfon
Dr. Neal Halfon, a
prominent pediatrician who directs the Center for Healthier
Children, Families and Communities at UCLA, discussed ways
to improve early childhood development at the Legislative
Office Building in Hartford on August 8, 2006.
Visit this page |
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CT
Leads the Way with School Readiness and
Early Reading Success
An overview, updated in 2005, of the 1997 school readiness
legislation (Public Act 97-259), in
which Connecticut made a comprehensive
commitment to best practices in early
learning.
Download the PDF. |
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School Readiness and Early Reading
Success newsletters
These Commission
newsletters concern implementation of
the school readiness legislation.
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Connecticut Early
Childhood Education Cabinet
Also known as the Governor's Early Childhood Education
Cabinet, this panel was created in 2005 to advise on school
readiness issues, evaluate current school readiness
programs, and assist in developing budget scenarios for
early childhood education programs. Its members include
Commission on Children Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman.
Its documents are posted online by The United Way of
Connecticut.
Visit this site
- Ready by 5 & Fine by 9, published in October 2006, is
the Cabinet's suggested framework for early childhood
education.
Download the PDF
- Governor Rell held the first
meeting of the cabinet on September 2005.
Press release
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Connecticut Early
Childhood Research and Policy Council
Governor M. Jodi Rell created this panel to work with the
Early Childhood
Education Cabinet (see above)
on funding options and recommendations. Its
documents -- including its investment recommendations for
the fiscal years 2007-08 and 2008-09 -- are posted online by
The United Way of Connecticut.
Visit this site
Press
release
Executive order |
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Connecticut Department
of Education
The Early Childhood Education section of the department's
website contains links to variety of important documents on
the topic.
Visit this site
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This page was
last updated on
May 14, 2008
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