Summit On Early Childhood Education For Business Leaders Slated

FAIRFIELD — Connecticut business leaders are invited to Fairfield University on December 3 for a breakfast meeting examining the importance of preschool education to Connecticut’s economic competitiveness and how the business community can get involved.

The event will run from 8 to 10 am at Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business, 1073 North Benson Road.

Improving Connecticut’s early childhood education is both an ethical and an economic imperative. Research shows that high-quality learning programs for children from birth to age 5 yield high returns.

For every dollar invested, savings can range from $2.50 to $17 in reduced spending on remedial education and social services. In fact, four decades of data underscore the links between quality preK experiences, individual success, and states’ economic growth and productivity.

Speakers that day will include:

*John R. Rathgeber, president and CEO, Connecticut Business & Industry Association, and chair of the Governor’s Early Learning Cabinet

*Elaine Weiss, project manager, Pew Center on the States, Partnership for America’s Economic Success

*Rob Grunewald, associate economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

*Rob Dugger, managing partner, Hanover Investment Group, and advisory board chair of the Partnership for America’s Economic Success

*Dudley Williams, Jr, director of district education strategy, GE Asset Management Group

*Peter Hurst, Jr, president and CEO, The Community’s Bank

*David Nee, executive director, Graustein Memorial Fund

The event is free to business leaders, but registration is required. Call 860-244-1977 or visit cbia.com to register for the summit.

The event is sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, CBIA, the Governor’s Early Learning Cabinet, Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Department of Social Services Children’s Trust Fund, Connecticut Commission on Children, Graustein Memorial Fund, Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, Business Council of Fairfield County, Fairfield University, and United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.