CT SB00001

Establishes the Early Childhood Education Endowment beginning July 1, 2025, funded by up to $300 million from the FY2025 budget surplus and future unappropriated surpluses, with the Treasurer managing investments and annual releases of 10-12% to the Commissioner of Early Childhood for expanding child care access, provider payment rates, and workforce development.

Creates free child care for families earning under $100,000 annually and caps contributions at 7% of income for higher earners starting FY2028, with funds supporting programs participating in Early Start CT, the state quality improvement system, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Establishes a health insurance subsidy program for early childhood education program employees through the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, with $300,000 allocated in FY2026 and $10 million in FY2027 to cover costs remaining after tax credits and other subsidies.

Implements special education reforms including competitive grants for in-district programming, mandatory staffing change notifications to parents within 5 business days, a model transportation contract, a special education family guide, training grants for educators, creation of an Office of the Educational Ombudsperson, and requiring instructional support partners in each school starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Requires school districts to consider homelessness as a factor in suspension and expulsion hearings, prohibits expelling homeless students without intervention plans, mandates superintendent reporting on community partnerships and staff attrition, and sunsets the Commissioner's Network of Schools program with no new schools added after July 1, 2025.