Connecticut Office of Early Childhood

Our History Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed Public Act 14-39, establishing the Office of Early Childhood, on May 28, 2014. On June 24, 2013, Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed Executive Order No. 35, recognizing the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) as the office responsible for coordinating and improving the delivery of early childhood services for Connecticut children. The new agency builds on work done in 2012 when Connecticut invested $9.8 million in early childhood initiatives, created 1,000 new spots for early learners, invested $3 million for a tiered quality rating and improvement system, and sought collaborative partnerships for Office of Early Childhood Planning. The legislature passed a bill in 2011 that established a planning process to design a comprehensive early care and education system with the aid of a planning team. The team worked to create a plan that would address issues such as improving data collection, implement a quality rating and improvement system, streamlining licensing and funding sources, and coordinating between programs and entities. The planning team developed, "A Plan for an Early Childhood System for Connecticut: The Office of Early Childhood." In 2005, the Early Childhood Education Cabinet was established. The Cabinet brought together representatives from the various state agencies and commissions which serve young children, as well as legislators and representatives from Head Start and School Readiness.