Advocates: Childhood education essential

NEW HAVEN » Connecticut’s high levels of average educational attainment compared to the rest of the nation isn’t a coincidence, argue officials with the policy advocacy group Connecticut Voices For Children, but because of financial investment in educational programs.

To slash or shutter early childhood care and preschool programs in pursuit of savings is a myopic strategy that will cost the

state later down the road, said Connecticut Voices for Children Executive Director Ellen Shemitz in a statement.

“Seeking short terms savings through cuts to vital early childhood programs hurts our state in the long run, undermining our efforts to assure quality and equity in education and hurting workforce development and sustainability,” she said.

In a report released Thursday, Connecticut Voices For Children said the state’s achievement gap is still among the widest in the nation, with low-income children scoring lower on standardized testing measures than their wealthier classmates.

The report highlighted disparities in access, such as proposed cuts to Care 4 Kids, a state childcare subsidy, as an example of a “high-quality program” without any benefit to families if they cannot afford them.

“Wrap-around services are a key part of the equation, helping to ensure that young children’s needs are met both in and outside the classroom,” said Nicole Updegrove, the report’s author, in a statement.

In the report’s recommendations, Connecticut Voices For Children said the accomplishments made under the Office of Early Childhood are not worth risking or scaling back.

“Many of the vital wraparound services that we consider paramount to a quality system are housed within OEC budget line items that often face threats of funding cuts or elimination during lean budget years,” the report states.

“However, maintaining wrap-around programs is critical to ensuring highquality early care and education.”

In order to close the state’s achievement gap, the report recommended that low-income families be prioritized in the state budget.

Connecticut Voices For Children is not the only advocacy group drawing attention to the impact the state’s achievement gap is having on overall child welfare. Last month, the Annie E. Casey Foundation said Connecticut is one of the best states overall for child welfare, but the results are wildly inconsistent when segregated by race and income.