Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Spurred by the lure of federal aid, House approves major education reforms

  • by Robert A. Frahm
  • May 5, 2010
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

A sweeping education bill that calls for tougher high school standards, a more demanding evaluation system for teachers and a greater voice for parents in school governance won approval in the state House of Representatives early today.

After some political maneuvering, lawmakers combined elements of two separate education bills into a single landmark bill that would result in the most significant reforms of public schools in decades.

The legislation now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Thomas Gaffey, one of the chief architects of the legislation, expected it to pass.

fleischmann 5-5-10

State Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, co-chairman of the Education Committee, during debate on a major reform bill (Jacqueline Rabe)

The reforms, including an expansion of experimental charter schools, were spurred in large part by the Obama administration’s $4.3 billion Race to the Top program, a competition for federal stimulus funds to promote school innovation. Connecticut could qualify for up to $175 million.

“I really think we’ve got a great shot now,” Gaffey said. “We are pumped about this.”

After nearly seven hours of debate, the House approved the bill 106-38.

“It’s a great moment,” said Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, co-chairman with Gaffey of the General Assembly’s Education Committee.

The legislation would:

  • Increase high school graduation requirements, requiring additional credits in mathematics, science and foreign language.  Starting with the class of 2018, students also would be required to complete a senior project and pass graduation exams in algebra, geometry, biology, American history and English.
  • Revamp the state’s data collection system to allow better measurement of student progress and teacher performance.
  • Establish a teacher evaluation system that links teacher performance more directly with student progress. The evaluations also would take into account a range of other factors, including class size and student characteristics such as socioeconomic status and English language proficiency.
  • Remove enrollment limits on charter schools, the experimental schools that are free of many of the usual central office and union rules.
  • Create a fast-track system for training and licensing school principals similar to the state’s long-running alternate route to certification system for teachers.
  • Require low-performing schools to establish governance councils of parents, teachers, and community leaders with the authority to recommend a complete overhaul of schools that consistently fail to improve.
  • Give the State Board of Education the authority to disband local boards of education in districts that consistently fail to show progress. Officials have said the step would be used only as a last resort.

Connecticut is making a second attempt to win the Race to the Top funds after finishing well out of the running when the U.S. Department of Education announced winners of the first round of grants last month.

Of 40 states and the District of Columbia in the competition, 16 states were named finalists and only two – Tennessee and Delaware – were picked for the first awards. Tennessee won $500 million, Delaware $100 million.

Connecticut’s application was ranked 25th by federal reviewers, but state officials have expressed hope that a revised application, along with the passage of strong school reform laws, will significantly improve chances of winning in a second phase of the competition.

Some lawmakers objected to the potential cost of the reforms, saying there is no guarantee Connecticut will win the stimulus funds.

The bill could require the hiring of as many as 380 additional teachers statewide at a cost of nearly $21 million, according to an estimate by the legislature’s Office of Fiscal Analysis. Another $7 million is projected in training costs related to the new teacher evaluation program.

“We’re being asked to commit approximately $30 million to a competition that may not go our way,” said state Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, R-Old Saybrook.

State Rep. Toni Walker, D-New Haven, said she is concerned that the more rigorous graduation requirements could force more students to drop out, especially those who are struggling academically. “To me, adding more credits does not address that population,” she said.

The provision requiring low-performing schools to form governance councils was part of an earlier bill sponsored by the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. The inclusion of parents on those councils was a central element of that bill, which was aimed at closing the achievement gap that finds many low-income and minority students lagging behind white and more affluent classmates.

That bill had been approved by the House last week but was combined with a Senate bill on Race to the Top as lawmakers raced to complete the reform package before the legislative session ends at midnight tonight.

“I don’t know of another time when we’ve done as much education reform in Connecticut as we’ve done tonight,” said state Rep. Jason Bartlett, D-Bethel, a sponsor of the achievement gap bill. “Hope and opportunity for kids has been strengthened, and I’m proud of what we’ve done.”

State Rep. Douglas McCrory, D-Hartford, said the provisions in achievement gap bill strengthen the state’s case for the Race to the Top funds.

“This gives parents the opportunity at the table with teachers to turn around failing schools,” said McCrory, who called the reforms “the right thing to do.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert A. Frahm

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Education is the cornerstone of democracy
by John J. Petillo

The events of January 6 represent an inflection point for our democracy and, in truth, for our concept of civil society. Much has already been written about the political and cultural tides that swept our nation toward these events —and a real understanding of their significance will not be possible for some time, in part because the reactions and responses to these events are still unfolding as I write.

A rebuttal to ‘A call to save arms’
by Tyler David Gavitt

A response to "A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?" published January 25: The aforementioned article, written by Genevieve Diamant, stands to do potentially significant damage to the efforts by the citizens and government of the State of Connecticut to bring under control the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Holocaust, history and today’s politics
by Avinoam Patt and Laura Hilton

On January 6 the world watched as domestic terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.  The pictures seared into our memories of this day are replete with symbols of hatred, racism, and extremism: The Confederate battle flag, the white power hand gesture, and the gallows erected near the Capitol reflecting pool. What many may not have noticed within this sea of white supremacy was the prominence of anti-Semitic images.

Sticker shock
by Eric W. Kuhn

It would award a modest amount to families making less than $203k in the first year of the program, ramping up to as much as $1,800 in year four. On a sliding scale, the money would also go to families making up to $682,000 a year. Really? That's 8.7 times the median household income in America.

Lamont edges close to deal on sports betting. Just don’t ask for odds.
by Mark Pazniokas

Connecticut is close to a deal with the tribes over rights to sports betting.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Education is the cornerstone of democracy
by John J. Petillo

The events of January 6 represent an inflection point for our democracy and, in truth, for our concept of civil society. Much has already been written about the political and cultural tides that swept our nation toward these events —and a real understanding of their significance will not be possible for some time, in part because the reactions and responses to these events are still unfolding as I write.

Opinion A rebuttal to ‘A call to save arms’
by Tyler David Gavitt

A response to "A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?" published January 25: The aforementioned article, written by Genevieve Diamant, stands to do potentially significant damage to the efforts by the citizens and government of the State of Connecticut to bring under control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opinion The Holocaust, history and today’s politics
by Avinoam Patt and Laura Hilton

On January 6 the world watched as domestic terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.  The pictures seared into our memories of this day are replete with symbols of hatred, racism, and extremism: The Confederate battle flag, the white power hand gesture, and the gallows erected near the Capitol reflecting pool. What many may not have noticed within this sea of white supremacy was the prominence of anti-Semitic images.

Opinion Sticker shock
by Eric W. Kuhn

It would award a modest amount to families making less than $203k in the first year of the program, ramping up to as much as $1,800 in year four. On a sliding scale, the money would also go to families making up to $682,000 a year. Really? That's 8.7 times the median household income in America.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO