(a) A town seeking to apply for a grant pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-16p or section 10-16u shall convene a local school readiness council or shall establish a regional school readiness council pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Any other town may convene such a council. The chief elected official of the town or, in the case of a regional school district, the chief elected officials of the towns in the school district and the superintendent of schools for the school district shall jointly appoint and convene such council. Each school readiness council shall be composed of: (1) The chief elected official, or the official’s designee; (2) the superintendent of schools, or a management level staff person as the superintendent’s designee; (3) parents; (4) representatives from local programs such as Head Start, child care providers receiving state financial assistance pursuant to section 8-210, family resource centers, nonprofit and for-profit child care centers, group child care homes, prekindergarten and nursery schools, and family child care home providers; (5) a representative from a health care provider in the community; (6) the local homeless education liaison designated by the local or regional board of education for the school district, pursuant to Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time; (7) a representative from a workforce or job training entity in the community; (8) a representative from a local business in the community; and (9) other representatives from the community who provide services to children. On and after July 1, 2021, the members of the school readiness council shall elect the chairperson of the school readiness council. Each school readiness council is required to document efforts to ensure that the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic composition of the council reflects that of its town or region, as applicable. At least twenty-five per cent of the membership of the school readiness council shall be parents or guardians of children eligible to attend a school readiness program. Such parents or guardians may, within available appropriations, be compensated for any time and travel related to council meetings, and any activities related to training, leadership and community engagement. School readiness council meetings shall be held at times and locations that are convenient for the council members, including the parent and guardian members.

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(b) The local school readiness council shall: (1) Make recommendations to the chief elected official and the superintendent of schools on issues relating to school readiness, including any applications for grants pursuant to sections 10-16p, 10-16u, 17b-749a and 17b-749c; (2) foster partnerships among providers of school readiness programs; (3) cooperate with the Office of Early Childhood in any evaluation of a school readiness program; (4) identify existing and prospective resources and services available to children and families; (5) facilitate the coordination of the delivery of services to children and families, including (A) referral procedures, and (B) before and after-school child care for children attending kindergarten programs; (6) exchange information with other councils, the community and organizations serving the needs of children and families; (7) make recommendations to school officials concerning transition from school readiness programs to kindergarten; (8) encourage public participation; and (9) collaborate with the Office of Early Childhood related to planning improvements to the state early care and education governance structure.

(c) Two or more towns or school districts and appropriate representatives of groups or entities interested in early childhood education in a region may establish a regional school readiness council. If a priority school is located in at least one of such school districts, the regional school readiness council may apply for a grant pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-16p. The regional school readiness council may perform the duties outlined in subdivisions (2) to (8), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section.