Early Childhood Endowment Creates Hundreds of Additional Slots, Further Expansion Planned

At a press conference Thursday in West Hartford, officials said Connecticut’s newly-established Early Childhood Education Endowment has already allowed for the creation of more than 500 preschool slots for children throughout the state.

By Ronni Newton

Gov. Ned Lamont and Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye announced Thursday morning that the first round of funding through an endowment established this summer has already expanded preschool opportunities for Connecticut families, and will only continue to expand.

A preschool classroom at Charter Oak International Academy in West Hartford served as the backdrop Thursday morning for the announcement that the Early Childhood Education Endowment , established during the 2025 legislative session and signed by the governor over