Early Care and Early Learning

Arne Duncan, President Barack Obama's education secretary, has a slogan that summarizes his tenure and the view of his mission that he shares with his boss. "Education is the civil rights issue of our generation," Duncan says.

There are nearly 400,000 children in Connecticut ages birth through age eight. Many are thriving, but more than a quarter of those children are at risk for factors that jeopardize their early learning and healthy development. Decades of research has demonstrated that early childhood programs and services can improve academic, social and economic outcomes as the child grows into adulthood.

This time of year, after a month of decadent living, many adults decide we must change our ways. It’s the annual New Year’s resolution. A healthy lifestyle is often at the top of the list as we resolve to exercise more and lose weight. 

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy Wednesday pledged to continue his support of education reforms in general and early childhood slots in particular at a groundbreaking of a center in Fair Haven Heights that will expand accredited pre-school options for low-income children.

As the state clears a minimum $363 million shortfall this fiscal year and is looking at a $2.3 billion deficit over the next two years, Malloy gave early childhood programs high priority, but he stopped short of any promises on the level of funding.

A recent study of city preschoolers shows that more than one-third are overweight or obese, far exceeding what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies as normal.

Researchers at the UConn Center for Public Health and Health Policy conducted the weight surveillance study in May after contracting with the city's Department of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation.