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Washington, D.C. - Connecticut will receive a $1,995,108 federal grant to ensure that Connecticut early childhood educators receive high-quality training, Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman announced today.
"We can't put a price tag on the work of those men and women who devote themselves to fostering the academic and social development of our young children," said Dodd. "The value of a good teacher to a needy child is immeasurable. By providing the best possible training, we can ensure that our children will receive a better early learning experience."
"Early childhood development is critical to future educational success," Lieberman said. "Children must come to school ready to learn if they hope to achieve, and this funding will help many disadvantaged children in Connecticut start on the right path."
The Connecticut Department of Education will use the funds, provided through the U.S. Department of Education's Early Childhood Educator Professional Development Initiative, to improve the school-readiness of Connecticut children and minimize the difficulties they may face once they enter school. The grant specifically targets educators serving in areas with a high concentration of poverty.
The grant will allow the Connecticut Department of Education to provide training programs to a total of 850 early childhood educators and staff who serve nearly 8000 students in cities and towns around the state. The Department will provide the following new course offerings to early childhood educators through the help of this grant:
Literacy Environment Enrichment Program (LEEP) Supporting Children with Language Differences, Children's Challenging Behavior.
In addition, 450 entry-level staff will receive improved language and literacy training.
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