Meeting the Need, Accepting the Challenge

Meeting the Need, Accepting the Challenge: Developing Quality Early Education Facilities for Connecticut

This paper suggests that Connecticut is in the forefront of recognizing the need both to expand access to early education for 3- and 4-year-olds and to create the quality early education environments that support programmatic quality. As Connecticut’s early education system expands, more space will be needed to accommodate more children. The physical environment is a critical factor contributing to programmatic quality, as is teacher training and high staff-to-child ratios. Appropriate and well-designed facilities have an impact on the quality of care provided. Connecticut will finance these facilities with the State’s two existing educational facilities financing programs: the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority/ Department of Social Services (CHEFA/DSS) Tax-Exempt Financing Program, known as the CHEFA/DSS Bond Program, and the State Department of Education School Construction Grant Program. Recommendations are offered to improve the real estate development and financing process so that Connecticut will realize the greatest possible long-term return on their investment.