PDG birth-5 systems building grant. - connecticut's preschool development grant birth through five (PDG b-5) systems-building grant proposal represents a significant step forward in implementing the…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood $23.902 million on December 31, 2025, under the Preschool Development Grants Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) Systems Building Grant program (CFDA 93.434).

Connecticut will expand Early Start CT to increase access to high-quality infant and toddler care; enhance the workforce registry to track credentials, training, and career pathways; provide business supports to early childhood programs to improve financial stability; develop a single-entry portal to simplify family and provider access to early childhood services; and strengthen outcome measurement systems to track child, family, and program-level progress. These activities support the development and implementation of foundational strategies that strengthen governance, improve coordination, and lay groundwork for long-term transformation of the state's birth-to-five early childhood education system, consistent with Connecticut's strategic plan and the Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care Report.

Performance occurs in Connecticut, with work completing December 30, 2026. The PDG B-5 program assists states in assessing their statewide early childhood systems and service needs, creating strategic plans to identify statewide goals, and implementing system and service activities. Awards are contingent on annual congressional appropriation and are not automatically renewable.

PDG birth-5 systems building grant. - connecticut's preschool development grant birth through five (PDG b-5) systems-building grant proposal represents a significant step forward in implementing the vision outlined in the CT blue ribbon panel on child care report and the state's strategic plan to create a cohesive, high-quality, and financially sustainable early childhood education (ECE) system. This grant will support the development and implementation of foundational strategies that strengthen governance, improve coordination, and lay the groundwork for long-term transformation of the birth-to-five system. Additionally, CT will (a) expand early start CT to increase access to high-quality infant/toddler care; (b) enhance the workforce registry to track credentials, training, and career pathways; (c) provide business supports to early childhood programs to improve financial stability; (d) develop a single-entry portal to simplify family and provider access to early childhood; and (e) strengthen outcome measurement systems to track child, family, and program-level progress.