July 11, 2012

ROJAS ANNOUNCES EAST HARTFORD TO GET EARLY EDUCATION FUNDS
State Money For 30 Pre-K School Readiness Slots

Rep. Jason Rojas, a member of the legislature’s Education Committee and state Achievement Gap Task Force, announced Wednesday that East Hartford will receive state funding for an additional 30 pre-K School Readiness seats.

“We must increase achievement for all of our students and one of the best ways to meet that goal is to lay a strong foundation for success in and out of the classroom,” said Rojas, the East Hartford Democrat who also represents Manchester and Glastonbury. “That’s why this funding is so important. Reading is the basis of learning – the key to academic success and our pre-K School Readiness program will get kids reading early.”

New funding for increased access to high-quality early childhood education was included in the sweeping education reform package (SB 458) that Rojas helped craft and move through the legislature this year.

The 30 slots to be funded for East Hartford are part of the Connecticut School Readiness program, which is designed to provide for and increase access to high-quality preschool for children ages three and four. There will be a total of 1,000 new slots this fall spread among 36 towns in Connecticut.

Rojas said the education reform package also creates a pilot program to enhance literacy for students in kindergarten through third grade. It also requires the state Department of Education to develop reading assessments so children that are reading deficient are identified early so they may get the help they need quickly.