The Office of Early Childhood shall operate and administer Early Start CT in order to provide state funding to early care and education programs throughout the state and coordinate and facilitate the efficient delivery of such early care and education programs for eligible children. Under Early Start CT, the office shall:
(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 n
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The Office of Early Childhood shall operate and administer Early Start CT in order to provide state funding to early care and education programs throughout the state and coordinate and facilitate the efficient delivery of such early care and education programs for eligible children. Under Early Start CT, the office shall: (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.