The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has selected state Sen. John A. Kissel, R-Enfield, to participate in a meeting to discuss prekindergarten issues. The meeting, entitled “Prekindergarten Institute: Building on State Leadership,” will take place on December 11th & 12th in Atlanta and is being fully funded by the NCSL. This is the third national conference that Sen. Kissel has been chosen to participate in. In September, Sen. Kissel was one of 9 legislators nationwide who took part in a conference in Denver on sentencing and corrections policy.

Sen. Kissel is scheduled to speak about Connecticut’s “Ready by 5 & Fine by 9” Early Childhood Investment Plan, Connecticut’s Early Childhood Research and Policy Council, established by an Executive Order of Governor M. Jodi Rell in 2006, as well as his involvement with Connecticut’s Youth Futures Committee. He will talk about the successes of these groups and ways in which legislators from other states can help establish an effective council. Sen. Kissel was highly recommended to speak by Dr. Janice Gruendel, who serves as Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s Senior Advisor for Early Childhood Education in Connecticut.

“I’m humbled and honored to be selected to speak in Atlanta about the incredible importance of making sure every child masters reading and learning skills. To be able to meet with some of the nation’s leading experts and discuss with them the important issues facing early childhood education is really a great opportunity,” said Sen. Kissel. “Even in a difficult economy, we need to plan for our future and that means doing all we can to not lose any child to a lifetime of ignorance, failure and frustration. We’ll have to fight for every dollar, but I think this speaks well about what we are trying to do here in Connecticut regarding our state’s early childhood initiative.”