Sec. 10-16o. Development of network of school readiness programs.
Sec. 10-16o. Development of network of school readiness programs. The state
shall encourage the development of a network of school readiness programs pursuant
to sections 10-16p to 10-16r, inclusive, 10-16u and 17b-749a in order to:
(1) Provide open access for children to quality programs that promote the health
and safety of children and prepare them for formal schooling;
(2) Provide opportunities for parents to choose among affordable and accredited
programs;
(3) Encourage coordination and cooperation among programs and prevent the duplication of services;
(4) Recognize the specific service needs and unique resources available to particular
municipalities and provide flexibility in the implementation of programs;
(5) Prevent or minimize the potential for developmental delay in children prior to
their reaching the age of five;
(6) Enhance federally funded school readiness programs;
(7) Strengthen the family through: (A) Encouragement of parental involvement 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;
(8) Reduce educational costs by decreasing the need for special education services
for school age children and to avoid grade repetition;
(9) Assure that children with disabilities are integrated into programs available to
children who are not disabled; and
(10) Improve the availability and quality of school readiness programs and their
coordination with the services of child care providers.
(P.A. 97-259, S. 1, 41; P.A. 00-187, S. 10, 75; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1, S. 10, 54; P.A. 03-76, S. 39; P.A. 04-215, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 97-259 effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 00-187 added reference to Sec. 10-16u, effective July 1, 2000; June
Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1 amended Subdiv. (10) to add provision re coordination with the services of child care providers,
effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-76 made a technical change in Subdiv. (5), effective June 3, 2003; P.A. 04-215 amended
Subdiv. (2) by deleting reference to "approved" programs, effective July 1, 2004.