School Bus Safety, Volunteer Readers Needed, and the Early Childhood Education Fund

August 22, 2025


As the new school year quickly approaches, it's a great time for a friendly reminder about school bus safety. Whether you're a parent, driver, or community member, we all play a part in keeping students safe during their daily commute.

Connecticut law requires you to slow down for school buses in your neighborhood. Here is the breakdown for any driver who fails to stop when a school bus is displaying its flashing red signal lights:

  • First offense: $450 fine
  • Following offenses: $500 - $1,000 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both
Click here for more information
Volunteer Readers Needed

Make a Difference This School Year – Become a United Way Reader!

The 2025–2026 school year is just around the corner, and the United Way is looking for passionate individuals to join United Way Readers.

Just 60 minutes a week can change a child’s life. By volunteering, you’ll help young readers:

  • Build confidence
  • Strengthen reading skills
  • Discover the joy of books
  • Unlock a lifetime of opportunities

Help a child thrive — one page at a time. Click here to sign up.

Early Childhood Education
Endowment Fund

The Early Childhood Education Endowment Fund is here—Connecticut’s first permanent savings account to sustainably fund early childhood education.

What’s happening now:

  • $300 million initial investment to grow over time and strengthen child care statewide
  • Launch of Early Start CT, combining multiple programs into one, making access simpler and more equitable
  • $36 million in the first year (started July 2025) to expand and improve the child care system
  • 1,000+ new spaces added by June 2026
  • Higher pay & better benefits for early childhood educators
  • Facility improvements funded for providers
  • Health insurance study underway for child care workers

What’s ahead:

  • By 2027, families earning under $100k will get free Early Start CT care
  • Families earning over $100k will have costs capped at 7% of income
  • More spaces and programs through a competitive process
  • Expanded pre-K from part-day to full-day, with inclusive environments for all children

This is just the beginning-a long-term investment in affordability, quality, and equity for Connecticut’s youngest learners.

Community Events

On Sunday, August 24 from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. the Strong Family Farm (274 West Street) will have a hale bale maze, a pyramid of hay, crafts, and other fun activities! Don’t forget to stop by to say hello to the visiting goats. Free for all, and open to all ages! 

Schedule of Events:
10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.-Visit with Donkey’s, Hay Bale Maze, crafts, & Kids games
11:00 A.M.-Story Time

On Monday, August 25 at 4:30 P.M. in the Community Room of the Rockville Public Library (52 Union Street, Rockville), join Craig Lombardi to discover Geocaching, a modern-day treasure hunt where participants use GPS coordinates to find hidden caches. This workshop will teach you how to get started, from finding your first cache to creating your own adventures.

Click here to register, ages 12+, please.