Why here? The rationale for starting in Bridgeport is that Bridgeport' children face significant economic and social deprivation.

• Bridgeport ranks among the lowest in per capita income in Connecticut ($16, 306) and among the highest in population density.
  
• 38% of Bridgeport children, or a little over 10,000 children, live in poverty; half of them receive welfare benefits and 40% of these are under 6 years old.
  
• 95% of Bridgeport's public school children are economically disadvantaged as measured by free or reduced cost lunch program vs. 26.9% statewide.
  
• Children are 40% of Bridgeport's homeless population.
  These economic and social conditions impose a false ceiling on child development
  
• Mental and physical health limitations
  
• Inadequate facility with language
  
• Insufficient support to build adequate capacity for learning and positive self-images and confidence
  
• Lack of exposure to the variety of methods for learning which can tap into the full capabilities of children.
  And test results tend to confirm that deprivation exists.
  
• Bridgeport has among the lowest percentage of children meeting goal on State mastery tests in Connecticut.

The Bridgeport Board of Education, working with people in the community, set a strategic plan with a clear mission: "to graduate all students college ready and prepared to succeed in life." Bridgeport has

• Twenty-two research based improvement efforts underway in the public schools.
  
• Early education efforts for 3-5 year olds reaching over 66% of young children (includes Head Start) and augmented formal leadership for early childhood education in the district.
  
• Comprehensive health services for enrolled children at schools.
  
• Charter schools, after school programs, Catholic schools are other examples of Bridgeport's community striving to upgrade learning.
  

But there is a need to go much farther.

• The learning gap has persisted.
  
• Over 33% of young children are not reached by existing program.
  
• There is clear evidence that Early Childhood Education has a profound impact on capacity for learning for a lifetime.
  
• Moreover there is evidence that if development to goal is achieved at age 9, the student has a much better chance for further success in schooling and in life.

The Total Learning Institute's four key components of service.

• Birth - 9: medical and psychological support
  
• Birth - 3 year olds: aural and kinesthetic development for children and families
  
• Three-Five year olds: thinking and creativity development
  
• Kindergarten-4th Grade: multi-sensory development of literacy and basic skills.