Gov Lamont unveils $300 million plan to provide free preschool for Connecticut families – The Times of India

Governor Ned Lamont announced a bold initiative on March 12, 2025, to provide free preschool education for families earning less than $100,000 per year in Connecticut. The governor introduced a $300 million funding plan aimed at addressing the state’s ongoing childcare crisis, which has worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic. Lamont believes this effort will offer relief to working and middle-class families struggling to afford early education.
The announcement was made at a press conference in New Britain, where Lamont highlighted the need for action. “We’ve got to make sure we take the lead here in the state of Connecticut,” Lamont stated during his remarks at a preschool center on the campus of Central Connecticut State University, as reported by WTNH.
Plan to ease childcare burden
The proposed plan seeks to combat the rising costs and limited availability of childcare services across Connecticut. The funds will target issues such as affordability and access, which have been significant barriers for many families. Beth Bye, head of the state’s Office of Early Childhood, emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling it “an emergency” as reported by WTNH. With many childcare centers still struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, Lamont’s proposal aims to offer financial support to make preschool more accessible.
This initiative would benefit families with an annual income of less than $100,000. The $300 million in funding is proposed to come from the state’s surplus, directed into an off-budget endowment fund. However, the proposal has already faced opposition from both Republicans and some Democrats in the state legislature.
Political challenges ahead
Republican leaders have criticized Lamont’s funding mechanism, particularly the use of an off-budget fund, which they argue circumvents fiscal guardrails meant to control state spending. State Sen. Steve Harding, the Republican leader, suggested that Lamont is using the preschool initiative to create what he called a “slush fund,” as quoted by WTNH.
Despite this criticism, Lamont’s plan has garnered support within his own party, especially among progressives who have called for more flexibility in state budget controls to fund social services.
As the proposal moves forward, it will need to pass through the legislature, where it faces both skepticism and support. The governor’s push for free preschool education is a critical part of his broader vision to address Connecticut’s educational and childcare challenges.