Substitute Bill No. 6 seeks to improve resources and support for infants, toddlers, and disconnected youths in Connecticut, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. The bill designates the Office of Early Childhood as the lead agency for administering the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, while also modifying the existing child nutrition outreach program to focus on increasing participation in the federal School Breakfast Program and the federal Summer Food Service Program, thereby references to the Child and Adult Care Food Program from this section. Additionally, it mandates the executive board of the Connecticut Preschool Through Twenty and Workforce Information Network to submit an annual report on disconnected youth, incorporating data from various state agencies. The bill also introduces provisions for kindergarten preparatory academies and updates the Connecticut Smart Start competitive grant program, extending its timeline to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and beyond. Moreover, the bill enhances early childhood education by providing local and regional boards of education with increased grants for capital and operating expenses related to preschool programs and kindergarten preparatory academies. It raises the maximum grant amount for capital expenses from seventy-five thousand dollars to one hundred five thousand dollars per classroom and increases the annual operating grant limit from five thousand dollars to seven thousand dollars per child served. The bill outlines eligibility criteria for receiving grants, including the need for preschool programs and the requirement for certified educators. It also mandates the Office of Early Childhood to conduct quarterly reviews of children referred to the birth-to-three program and to provide training for teenage parents in high teen birth rate communities. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance early childhood services and ensure quality standards are met while improving access to educational resources and nutrition programs for young children and disconnected youths in the state.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 10-215h, 10-506, 10-514
KID Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-215h, 10-506, 10-514
File No. 199: 10-215h, 10-506, 10-514
APP Joint Favorable: 10-215h, 10-506, 10-514