(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that as a result of the fiscal year 2027 state budget bill that he signed into law last week, his administration is making an additional investment of approximately $320 million into Connecticut’s recently established Early Childhood Education Endowment.
Established by Governor Lamont in 2025 through Public Act 25-93, the endowment functions as a permanent funding source dedicated to strengthening Connecticut’s early childhood education system. This year’s investment, combined with last year’s initial investment of $300 million, positions Connecticut as a national leader in developing sustainable solutions that support children, families, and educators.
Early childhood education has been one of Governor Lamont’s top priorities, and the endowment is being hailed by advocates as groundbreaking in the effort toward providing all children with access to high-quality early childhood education.
“Every child living in Connecticut deserves access to a good education—including during the earliest years of their lives—and we must make these opportunities available to every child of every background, no matter where they live or the socioeconomic status of their families,” Governor Lamont said. “Numerous studies have proven that an education beginning at an early age leads to greater academic success later in life and opens the door to more professional achievements and career success as adults. Additionally, having the ability to enroll children in these opportunities means that parents will have greater ability to join the workforce and earn an income that supports their family. I strongly believe that providing every child with access to early childhood education opportunities will make Connecticut an even stronger, safer, and resilient state.”
The endowment was created to address longstanding challenges facing Connecticut families and the child care industry, including the high cost of care, access to available child care, workforce recruitment and retention challenges, and the need for stable funding that supports access to high-quality early childhood education across the state. Over time, the endowment’s resources will help create thousands of additional child care spaces, make early childhood education more affordable for families, support competitive compensation for educators, strengthen program quality, and improve access to child care in communities where families need it most.
In addition to supporting affordability and access for families, Governor Lamont has dedicated the state toward making continued investments in the critical components necessary for a strong and sustainable early childhood system. Consistent with the provisions of Public Act 25-93, in fiscal year 2027 up to 12% of annual endowment expenditures may be used to support workforce initiatives, quality improvement efforts, provider business operations and sustainability, facilities construction and renovation investments, and other system-building strategies that strengthen the delivery of high-quality early childhood education across the state. These investments recognize that increasing access for families requires a stable workforce, financially healthy providers, and continued support for program quality.
The fiscal year 2027 budget also includes a $10 million investment in a health insurance subsidy for the early childhood workforce, reflecting Connecticut's ongoing commitment to recruiting and retaining qualified educators. Together, these investments advance the state’s comprehensive strategy to strengthen early childhood education while supporting the educators and providers who serve children and families every day.
“The Early Childhood Education Endowment represents Connecticut's commitment to building an early childhood system that works for families, educators, providers, and children,” Connecticut Early Childhood Commissioner Elena Trueworthy said. “Families need care they can afford. Educators deserve compensation that reflects the importance of their work. Providers need sustainable funding to deliver high-quality programs. This endowment allows Connecticut to advance all these goals through a thoughtful, long-term strategy that benefits Connecticut’s economy.”
Beginning in July 2027, eligible families are expected to begin benefiting from no cost or reduced-cost early childhood education opportunities supported through the endowment. Consistent with Public Act 25-93, eligible families enrolled in state-funded child care spaces through the Early Start CT program who earn up to $100,000 annually will have access to child care at no cost, while family contributions above that threshold will be capped at no more than 7% of the household income.
The endowment is guided by an advisory board responsible for helping ensure that investments advance the goals of affordability, access, quality, workforce stability, and long-term sustainability.
For more information on the endowment, visit www.ctoec.org/early-childhood-education-endowment.