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Governor’s universal preschool endowment prompts funding questions from Appropriations subcommittee
Summary
The Office of Early Childhood outlined an endowment proposal that would seed $300 million and aim to expand preschool by 20,000 slots by 2032; lawmakers asked for detailed slot counts, the split between rate increases and new spaces, and how ARPA and other funds fit with the plan.
Acting Commissioner Elena Tuberty told the Appropriations subcommittee that the governor’s proposed universal preschool endowment would begin with a $300 million transfer and that initial spending would follow an endowment model.
"We will put away $300,000,000 in 1 year, and we'll be able to use 10% of that, which is about $30,000,000 in 1 year," Tuberty said in testimony, describing the administration’s financing framework.
Tuberty said the Office of Early Childhood expects the plan — combined with implementation work — to increase preschool capacity by 20,000 spaces for three‑ and four‑year‑olds and eligible five‑year‑olds and to lower or eliminate daily costs for many families. She told legislators the currently served population is about 19,000 children in public‑school preschool and that the endowment plan aims to boost access and affordability so that by 2032 an estimated 93% of families wanting preschool could be served.
Lawmakers pressed staff for details on how many additional slots the 2026–27 budget would buy versus how much would be used for rate increases that stabilize providers. Representative Walker, Representative Nuccio and Senator Austin repeatedly asked for a breakdown by program, age cohort and geography, and for evidence that rate increases would translate into more seats rather than only higher operating revenue for existing providers.
Tuberty and Nicole Cassette, director of Connecticut’s Birth‑to‑3 system, outlined other components of the governor’s proposal: a $6 million boost for tiered Birth‑to‑3 rates tied to a federally sponsored Medicaid rate study, a continued 4% increase for some Early Start providers, and a $3 million request to continue Smart Start classrooms. Cassette said the Birth‑to‑3 tiered approach expands two existing tiers into five to reward staff credentials and training with higher reimbursement levels.
Lawmakers also raised specific program questions the agency pledged to answer at working sessions: how many slots would be created by the endowment and other line items, how the endowment would be managed (treasurer oversight was mentioned in the bill language), how the plan treats private‑sector providers versus public‑school classrooms, and what contingency steps would apply in years without a general‑fund surplus.
Other items discussed included: - Sparkler family app: OEC staff said about 33,000 families are registered; the app links families to developmental screening and Help Me Grow referrals. - Smart Start: ARPA‑funded expansion has supported 16 preschool classrooms serving roughly 240 children; the governor’s proposal would raise the classroom payment from $75,000 to $97,500 to sustain operations. - TriShare pilot and employer partnerships: lawmakers questioned a $1.6 million addition for TriShare expansion, asking for utilization data; OEC said one employee had enrolled at the time of testimony and that partners are actively recruiting. - Universal nurse home visiting: a $1.8 million continuation of pilots in Bridgeport and Norwich was described as sustaining two community demonstrations.
Tuberty said OEC would bring detailed spreadsheets, utilization data and population projections to the committee’s working sessions so legislators could map funding to slots and program outcomes before decisions on enactment.
