Education Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-5220
AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY IN THE CARE4KIDS PROGRAM TO
PARENTS PARTICIPATING IN AN EVEN START PROGRAM OR ENROLLED
Title: IN CERTAIN SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Vote Date: 3/9/2020
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Change of Reference to Appropriations
PH Date: 3/6/2020
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Education Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This legislation will expand eligibility in the care for kids program to parents who are
participating in a local Even Start program or enrolled in certain secondary educational
programs.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Beth Bye, Commissioner, State Office of Early Childhood
The Commissioner supports the intent of the legislation; however, the estimated cost
prevents the implementation based on the state's budget allowance.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Loring Barber, Director of Hiring and Recruiting, Educational Playcare
Loring writes in support of HB 5220 as a recruiter for a child care organization. The state
currently faces a lack of qualified early childhood educators and many child care centers are
feeling the repercussions. The specific organization that Loring recruits for is accredited and
because of that they are required to have at least one teacher that holds a degree in the field
in each classroom. The degrees that they accept can range from an Associate's in Early
Childhood to a Master's in Early Childhood. Since June 2019, they have interviewed 1,576
candidates and only 103 held a degree in the field. Expanding the access to child care for
those seeking higher education would improve their lives and futures in the workforce.
Mary Cecchinato, Executive Director, Torrington Child Care Center Inc.
Mary writes in support of HB 5220 and notes its importance in helping low income families.
Currently, low income families remain impoverished because they do not have access to
quality child care and it keeps them from bettering themselves by obtaining degrees and
securing better paying employment opportunities. She remarks that the state needs highly
skilled workers and workers need quality child care.
Claudia Choc and Juana Chomo, Even Start Parents
Claudia and Juana write in support of HB 5220 and the opportunity it has provided them to
learn English to better their chances of employment in the state while also ensuring their
children's wellbeing as they do so.
Steven Hernndez, Executive Director, Commission on Women, Children, Seniors,
Equity and Opportunity
Steven writes in support of HB 5220. He notes that Connecticut is one of only two states that
does not allow for parents enrolled in either and Even Start program or certain secondary
education programs to use child care subsidy programs while they attend. Steven addresses
how education in many cases leads to higher paying jobs and more stability but without
quality child care it is difficult for those seeking a degree to even apply in the fear that they
will not be able to balance all these factors.
Jamie Fournier
Jamie writes in support of HB 5220 as a parent and student currently affected by the battle
between education and child care. Jamie will soon become ineligible for Care4Kids since she
left her job in order to complete her degree and is now not covered under the requirement
that she is not working. She believed that she was covered under the provision that she was
pursuing "education," as is specified on the C4K application but was later informed that
education did not include college unless it is a JFES program. Now, Jamie faces an increase
in child care costs from $139.65/month to $85.50/week. She also fears that her child's father
may absolve his financial responsibility to pay for child care as it no longer is considered a
work-related expense. The passage of HB 5220 would mitigate these concerns.
Elizabeth Fraser, Policy Director, Connecticut Association for Human Services
Elizabeth writes in support of HB 5220. 30% of births in Connecticut are to mothers who have
either a high school level education or less, and being able to obtain well-paying, long term
employment is difficult. Education has been directly correlated to income level and parents
earning low incomes have a harder time being able to provide for themselves and their
children. These hardships also disproportionately affect families of color and perpetuate a
cycle of poverty for low income families. This legislation provides a pathway for parents to
better themselves and keep the workforce in the state educated and available.
Merrill Gay, Executive Director, Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance
Merrill writes in support of HB 5220. He first notes that HB 5220 is similar to SB 934, a bill
passed in the 2019 legislative session, with a more focused objective. The bill is specific to
addressing the workforce shortages in: Advanced Manufacturing, Nursing ang Teaching
(including Early Childhood Education), and Even Start programs. Many of these fields have
jobs all over the state that are looking for fulfillment, but they require some level or formal
education or job training. Providing parents seeking to advance in these career fields with
access to the C4K program would help the families and the state advance.
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Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
The foundation writes in support of HB 5220 and emphasizes the importance of quality child
care for working families that want to obtain long term employment and promote learning and
development to their children. This legislation would help increase family earning potential
and reduce the amount of families in poverty. The foundation would encourage the bill to
expand eligibility to families that seek education or job training in all fields of study.
Lina Kronenberger, Donna Labbe, Laiza Melndez, Directors, CT Even Start
Lina, Donna, and Laiza write in support of HB 5220 and attest to the success of the programs
and their impact on economic development. The Even Start program encompasses three
main components: Adult Education/Workforce Development, Early Childhood Education, and
Family Engagement. Families that have gone through the program can attest to the success
of the program and expanding eligibility would not only help the individual but also the state
by increasing higher paid workers and subsequently the tax they pay.
Shannon Marimn, Executive Director, ReadyCT
Shannon writes in support of HB 5220. Accessing affordable child care is cited as one of the
main reasons that adults do not complete their higher education. CT United Way reported in
2018 that child care cost on average $1,700/month for an infant and preschool aged child in a
registered program. If Connecticut has statutory goal of creating a workforce comprised of
70% higher education degree holders, the passage of HB 5220 would support that. Finally,
she notes that Connecticut is one of only two states that does not provide a child care
subsidy for parents pursing higher education or job training.
Dr. Kate Parr, Research Professor, UCONN School of Social Work
Dr. Parr writes in support of HB 5220 and as an evaluator of the Even Start Program in
Connecticut, can attest to its importance. The program in Connecticut is unique in
comparison to nationwide programs because it focuses on both parental and child education.
While parents attend courses towards a diploma or their English literacy, children receive
quality child care focused on social-emotional learning and enrichment programs. They also
provide collaborative programs between parents and children that promote healthy home
habits and connections. However, the program faces funding issues and that is why
collaborating with the C4K program would help to maintain funds and continue serving the
families that need it most.
Many also expressed the difficulty in finding child care options while pursuing their education.
Parents feel as though they are forced to choose between child care and their potential future
economic success. Allowing for C4K eligibility to extend to parents going through education
or work training to access quality child care would greatly reduce their stress in their finances,
ability to continue coursework, and create peace of mind for their child's well-being.
Dr. Susan Radway, Riverfront Children's Center
Mary Gregg
Maeghan Perdue
Chenae Russell
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
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None Expressed.
Reported by: Lauren Riley, Date: March 17, 2020
Asst. Comm Clerk
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