Trinity College to Host Community Discussion
What: Professors Jack Dougherty of the Educational Studies Program, and Dina Anselmi of the Psychology Department will co-host a discussion on how Connecticut should implement an expansion of early childhood development to improve school readiness for all children. Guest participants include state Rep. Beth Bye of West Hartford; Harriet Feldlaufer, Early Childhood Education Bureau Chief of the state Department of Education; Elizabeth Rose, author of The Promise of Preschool: From Head Start to Universal PreK; and Carlota Schechter ’73, a professor at St. Joseph College.
When: Monday, April 21, 2008 ~ 7- 8 p.m.
Where: Terrace Room B, Mather Hall on the campus of Trinity College
Background: In Connecticut, both the executive branch, led by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, and the legislative branch, led by a Democratic majority, support a larger financial investment in early childhood education. Recent proposals have called for a multi-million dollar, five-year expansion of the program to improve school readiness for all children.
Key policy questions remain as to how Connecticut should implement this expansion, questions such as: Targeted Programs or Universal Pre-K? Should Connecticut focus funding on low-income children in priority school districts where the needs are greatest? Or should the state adopt a universal pre-K approach to improve quality and to build support among low-income and middle-class families? Should the focus be on local towns or inter-district integration?
At present, early childhood education in Connecticut is largely segregated by income. Most publicly funded centers are located in poorer neighborhoods while tuition-based private centers tend to be near more affluent families’ homes and workplaces. Connecticut’s current approach will continue this split by allocating preschool grants to individual cities and towns. Should the state create more inter-district preschools to bridge the socio-economic divide? Or would this approach slow progress toward achieving this goal of providing preschool for all? The panelists will attempt to address these issues and more.
This event is free and open to the public. RSVP to Jennifer Fichera at (860) 297-2471 or by email to Jennifer.Fichera@trincoll.edu.