Early Start CT (ESCT) combines Child Daycare Contracts, School Readiness Grants and State Head Start Supplement Grants all into one program. The goals of ESCT include making early childcare more affordable for families, improving access to high-quality early care and preschool programs, and increasing the focus on community and family need. Early Childhood Education develops children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills. Children who have had a high-quality early learning and preschool experience tend to have lasting long-term outcomes including, higher earnings, better health, and better focus. These gains are often maintained throughout their academic careers.

Early Start CT providers offer the following program options:

•     Full day (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
•     Part day (8:30-11:15 a.m. and 12:30-3:15 p.m.)
•     School day (8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.)
•     Extended day wraparound services for Head Start children

Children's Learning Centers (CLC) operates the Full Day, Part Day, and Extended Day School Readiness programs and the Early Start CT Preschool Classrooms housed in SPS offers a School Day/School Year School Readiness program.

Stamford's Early Childhood Collaborative (SECC)

The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) launched Early Start CT on July 1, 2025. In support of this transition, Local Governance Partners were formed in each city to increase focus on family and community need. SECC is Stamford's Local Governance Partner. The City of Stamford and Stamford's Cradle to Career has collaborated to ensure Stamford has a strong, inclusive and supportive early childhood hub. Currently, we are working towards establishing a Community Table. If you are interested in working towards a vision that all young children in Connecticut are safe, healthy, learning, and thriving, please apply to become a community table member.