Gentile welcomes Pre-K slots in Ansonia

HARTFORD - Gov. Dannel P. Malloy recently announced the allocation of 1,020 additional School Readiness opportunities for low-income children in 46 towns and cities throughout Connecticut. 

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

“I am very pleased that Ansonia will be receiving three of these Pre-K slots,” said state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia,.

 “A quality early childhood education experience is key to a young child’s educational success. I know we will see the benefit of these additional slots in our community in the years to come.”

Ansonia received three new slots in the Priority School District category (a full list is available below).

The additional 1,020 opportunities will become available at the beginning of the upcoming school year.

“Investing in high-quality education is the single most important investment we can make in our state and our economy. That has driven my efforts from day one as Mayor of Stamford and Governor of Connecticut,” Malloy said. 

“With this expansion, we are taking immediate steps to provide 1,020 additional children in low-income families with a strong start and foundation for lifelong success.”

The School Readiness Program is a state-funded program that provides high-quality preschool to low-income 3- and 4-year olds in Priority and Competitive School Districts in Connecticut. 

Priority School districts include the eight towns in the state with the largest population, the top 11 towns with the highest number of children under the temporary family assistance program, and the top 11 towns with the highest ratio of children under the temporary family assistance program. 

A Competitive School District is a town that has a priority school (a school in which 40 percent or more of the lunches served go to students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunch) or any town ranked in the bottom 50 towns in the state in town wealth.

  FY 2015 School Readiness Summary Expansion

Public Act 14-41 also established the Connecticut Smart Start Program which will expand preschool opportunities for children of low-income families in public schools. Connecticut Smart Start will provide grants in FY15 for the renovation of existing public school classrooms to accommodate public preschool programs. 

Up to $100 million for renovations will be available over a 10-year period, with a maximum of $10 million per year. Funding for public preschool classrooms will begin in FY16 with $100 million in operating funding available over a 10-year period (maximum $10 million per year) from the Tobacco Settlement Fund.

This post is taken from a press release from Gentile's office.