Under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) section 10-16r(a), the Valley Early Childhood Education Council has been developed and includes the following members:
- The Chief Elected Official, or the official’s designee. The Mayors of Ansonia, Derby, Shelton, and the First Selectman of Seymour are members and jointly convene Council meetings with the Superintendents of each town.
- Superintendents of Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Shelton schools are members and jointly convene Council meetings with the chief elected officials of each town.
- Parents or guardians of children eligible to attend a School Readiness program.
- Local early childhood programs that provide early education and childcare from Ansonia Public Schools, Derby Public Schools, Julia Day Nursery and Kindergarten, Kids Club, Lower Naugatuck Valley Early Childhood Education, and the Valley YMCA Child Care Center are representatives of the Council.
- A representative from a health care provider in the communities of Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Shelton.
- The local McKinney-Vento homeless education liaison designated by each school district
- TEAM Inc, Valley Regional Adult Education, Zero to Three, DCF, Rehab Associates, Boys & Girls Club, Valley United Way, ConnectKidz, Safe Kids/Griffin Hospital, Commerce Park Dental, and the AFC Urgent Care are all representatives from the community with a workforce or job training entity, local business and/or provide services to children in Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Shelton.
- Co-chairs are elected by the members of the Council and are responsible for ensuring that all policies of the Council are fully implemented.
- The Council is comprised of a Coordinator and a Liaison that is responsible for the coordination, program evaluation, and administration of the School Readiness Grant and serves as a liaison between the Valley Early Childhood Regional Council and the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.