WHEREAS, Connecticut is committed to the educational success of all of its students;

WHEREAS, early educational success, beginning with readiness for Kindergarten, predicts later academic success;

WHEREAS, research shows that investment in high-quality early childhood education results in a robust return;

WHEREAS, the expansion of quality early childhood educational opportunities is a prerequisite to achieving children’s readiness for kindergarten;

WHEREAS, such an expansion will necessitate a systematic, multi-year investment of additional state, community and family resources, along with a thorough assessment of outcomes; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1.      There is established a council to engage leadership from the governmental, higher education, business, and philanthropic communities with regard to early childhood strategic planning and investment partnerships.  The council shall be called the Governor’s Early Childhood Research and Policy Council (the “Council”).

2.      The Council shall:

a)      Advise the Early Childhood Education Cabinet (the “Cabinet”), established pursuant to Public Act 05-245,  on research findings, policy solutions and strategic financing opportunities related to investments in early childhood initiatives;

b)      Recommend ways to build and support a network of early childhood researchers across Connecticut’s education systems, including academic scholars at business and other professional schools;

c)      Engage Connecticut’s academic researchers, (including, but not limited to, the Connecticut School Readiness Program and local School Readiness Councils) in design of a longitudinal study of children’s development and review existing research that evaluates early childhood programs;

d)      Examine, from a business perspective, possible strategies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Connecticut’s early care and education “industry”;

e)      Propose additional “return on investment” (ROI) studies necessary to evaluate and support early childhood care and education, quality improvement and expansion proposals;

f)        Consult with the Cabinet in its preparation of the Cabinet’s Early Childhood Investment Plan, to be submitted to the Governor, regarding the expansion of high quality early childhood education services leading to the readiness for kindergarten of all Connecticut children upon entry into kindergarten; and

g)      Consult with the Cabinet in monitoring the ongoing implementation of the Connecticut Early Childhood Investment Plan.

3.      The Council shall have 31 members appointed by the Governor and shall consist of members from the following:

a)      Three members with experience and expertise regarding philanthropic giving, including one that is a member of the Connecticut Council on Philanthropy and one representing the United Way Associations of Connecticut;

b)      Three members representing business and industry within Connecticut;

c)      Three members representing higher education, including at least one member who is a faculty member or employee at a public higher education institution, at least one member from a private higher education institution or the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, and at least one member from the Connecticut Community and Technical Colleges;

d)      The Director of the Office of Workforce Competitiveness within the State of Connecticut Department of Labor, or his/her designee;

e)      The President of the Connecticut Development Authority, or his/her designee;

f)       The Executive Director of the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority or his/her designee;

g)      The Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Education, or his/her designee;

h)      The Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Higher Education, or his/her Designee;

i)        One member with leadership and experience in K-12 education from each of the following organizations: the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, Connecticut Education Association and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers;

j)        Three chief elected officials from municipalities: one from a municipality with a population of under thirty thousand, one with a population of more than thirty thousand and under eighty thousand, and one with a population of more than eighty thousand;

k)      The Chairs and Ranking Members of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Appropriation and Finance Committees;

l)        One member, appointed by the Governor, from the Early Childhood Education Cabinet; and

m)    The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or his/her designee.

4.      The Council shall be co-chaired by three persons appointed by the Governor: one from the philanthropic community, one from the business community, and one from the higher education community. 

5.      The Council may establish such working committees and consult with additional participants as the chairperson deem necessary and proper to accomplish its charge.

6.         a)   For purposes of funding the activities of the Council, the Council may, as necessary or permitted in accordance with applicable law, to the extent available (1) apply for grants from governmental and other sources; (2) accept and expend such grants on behalf of the State of Connecticut through the Office of Policy and Management or other participating state agencies or entities; (3) operate within existing appropriations of participating state agencies or entities; and (4) encourage gifts of money, goods and services from public and private sources.

b)  The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority    (“CHEFA”) shall accept gifts of money on behalf of the Council and deposit them with any appropriations received for the purposes set out in this Executive Order in a specified fund and segregated account under the control of CHEFA.

c)  The Council may make requests that the Executive Director of CHEFA make expenditures from the segregated account referred to in paragraph 6(b) above, to implement recommendations of the Council.

7.       The co-chairmen of the Council shall schedule the first meeting of the council no later than 30 days from the effective date of this Order.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Dated at Hartford this 7th day of February 2006.

M. JODI RELL 

Governor

By Her Excellency’s Command:

Susan Bysiewicz

Secretary of the State