Gov. Malloy Signs Bills Establishing the Office of Early Childhood and Moving Connecticut toward Universal Pre-Kindergarten

Legislation Also Establishes the Office of Early Childhood and Includes Recognition of Dyslexia as a Primary Specific Learning Disability

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by Commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood, Myra Jones-Taylor, State Department of Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor, state legislators and local officials, this afternoon signed two bills at the Helen Street School in Hamden that will expand pre-kindergarten for the state's three and four-year-olds, add dyslexia as a primary specific learning disability for children requiring special education, and formally establish the Office of Early Childhood.

"Ensuring that students are prepared to compete in a global economy and excel in twenty-first century careers means that we must strive to equip them with the knowledge, skills and tools they will need from day one," Governor Malloy said.  "This is not the case when a number of students in Connecticut come to kindergarten having had no learning experience prior to that.  By codifying the Office of Early Childhood in statute and moving our state toward universal access to pre-K we are taking significant steps to close the achievement gap and ensure that all students succeed -- regardless of income or zip code."