(a) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall develop and implement a performance-based evaluation system to evaluate licensed child care centers, within available appropriations. Such a performance-based evaluation system shall be similar to the Head Start Performance Standards in 45 CFR 1304.

(b) The commissioner shall conduct, within available appropriations, a longitudinal study that examines the developmental progress of children and their families both during and following participation in a child care program.

(c) The commissioner shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 11-4a, on or before January 1, 2015, on the implementation of the performance-based evaluation system and on the longitudinal study, and annually thereafter on the cumulative results of the evaluations.