Senator Bye, Rep. Fleischmann Honored as 2014 Children's Champions

From the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance.

Two local legislators – Sen. Beth Bye (D-5) and Rep. Andrew Fleischmann (D-18) – were recognized as Children’s Champions on Thursday at the Elmwood Community Center in West Hartford.

Throughout the summer, the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance has recognized state legislators for making Connecticut’s young children and their families a priority this session. Bye and Fleischmann represent the nineteenth and twentieth of the 25 legislators to be honored by the organization.

Each year, the Alliance seeks nominees from its membership, taking into account active assistance during the legislative session on issues that are of interest to the membership, as well as availability and access for constituents. This year’s nominees proved they put young children front and center as they shaped legislation and engaged with early childhood advocates to create the most effective early childhood policy for Connecticut.

This year has been a particularly successful year for early childhood, with the passage of the CT Office of Early Childhood, planning for universal access for preschool, expanding School Readiness, increasing rates for not only School Readiness, but also child development centers; and budget increases for Care4Kids and full-day, full-year rates for state-funded programs.

“For years, we’ve worked with legislators to make early childhood a priority issue, both at the Capitol and in the districts, and we’re seeing results of that work,” said Karen Rainville, CT Early Childhood Alliance co-chair and the executive director of CT Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC). “The Children’s Champions stepped up this year for their youngest constituents.”

“This was a phenomenal year – I’m proud to be working with you and I hope we can keep up the momentum,” Rep. Fleischmann told advocates at the brief ceremony on August 14. “I doubt we can ever top what we did this year, but to maintain the momentum would be wonderful.”

“Getting this award is really because of a community of champions that works together to provide kids preschool,” said Senator Beth Bye. “The Alliance has moved to a place of being agitators – to still agitating – but then being in the room and bringing the best thinking of the providers who this affects into the policy-making process.”

The Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance is a statewide advocacy organization working to ensure that all children are healthy, safe and ready for lifelong success.

Photo Caption: Faith helps CT Early Childhood Alliance Executive Director Merrill Gay present Children’s Champions awards to Senator Beth Bye and Rep. Andrew Fleischmann. Photo courtesy of CT Early Childhood Alliance.