Danbury News-Times focused on the achievement gap as a workforce issue, as well as a moral issue, that they hope to solve by 2020. Several recommendations by the Task Force on the Achievement Gap, include implementing statewide pre-k and all-day kindergarten.

Associated Press reporter Stephanie Reitz covered the Education Committee's public hearing on a bill that would phase-in all-day kindergarten and provide more preschool programs for low-income children. The bill stems from recommendations from the achievement gap task force, searching for ways to narrow the worst achievement gap in the country. CT Parent Power's Paul Wessel is quoted.

The CT Achievement Gap Task Force recommends expanding early education programs, like universal pre-k and full-day kindergarten, to help close the largest achievement gap in the country.

The CT Early Childhood Alliance executive director and a policy fellow at CT Voices for Children were among those quoted in a Hartford Courant article by Grace Merritt on the Education Committee's public hearing on Feb. 23 on SB 930, An Act Concerning the School Entrance Age. Ann Pratt and Jake Siegel were both testified and were quoted in the Feb. 24 article.

Most federal education and child discretionary programs are operating at FY 10 levels, per a continuing resolution (CR), which was passed by the 111 Congress (when both the House and Senate were controlled by the Democrats). The current CR expires on March 4. On February 11, the House Appropriations Committee proposed a new continuing resolution that would set funding levels for discretionary programs through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2011. After debate and several amendments, the new CR was passed by the House (now under Republican control). It proposes significant cuts to federal discretionary programs, $60 billion in all, with more than $5 billion from the Department of Education and more than $1.1 billion from early education and childcare programs.

CT Post article featuring CT Association of Public School Superintendents, who say that while a down payment is encouraging in early education, it will not solve the problem the state faces if the kindergarten cutoff date is shifted. Alliance members Childcare Learning Centers and CT Voices for Children (a statewide partner) are also featured in piece.

A multi-million investment over the next two years, leveraged with a private foundation monies, would help lay the groundwork for early childhood education in Connecticut.

CT Public News Service was at Governor Malloy's budget address on Feb 16 and covered a portion of his speech that addressed one of the best ways to help reduce the achievement gap in CT -- by investing in pre-kindergarten. He spoke of a state investment, as well as a leverage collaboration with Graustein Memorial Fund, Annie E. Casey Foundation and Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI), to make a "down payment" investment in CT's future.

CT Voices for Children progress report featured in a CT Mirror article highlighting the need for a Department of Early Childhood Education, legislation proposed by Senator Beth Bye.

US Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the New Jersey Republican proposal to roll back full-day preschool in urban districts would hurt students. The plan calls for funding only half-day preschool in urban districts and diverting the savings to suburban schools.