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

CT Supreme Court grapples with its role addressing poverty in the classroom

  • Education
  • by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
  • September 28, 2017
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

PATRICK RAYCRAFT | praycraft@courant.com

Associate Attorney General Joseph Rubin makes an opening statement for the state in the case being heard by the state Supreme Court.

The Connecticut Supreme Court Thursday grappled with the question of the state’s responsibility for overcoming the ill effects of poverty as a coalition of parents, educators and local officials argued the state should be required to spend more in its lowest-performing school districts.

The state Constitution requires that students be offered a free public education.

Related links

When poverty permeates the classroom

Troubled Schools on Trial: A seven-part series

A broken formula for state school aidA building boom, pension costs lock in big costsWho’s in charge? State vs. local controlWhat does a high school diploma prove?Special education driving costs & controversiesWill a scathing court decision lead to action?

Justice Richard N. Palmer acknowledged there are “exceedingly disturbing statistics” showing that many students aren’t learning what they should. But, he said, “There are all sorts of problems that affect these students before they get to school.

“What, if anything, is the state obligated to do to address those preexisting conditions?” he asked.

Representing the state, Associate Attorney General Joseph Rubin, said Connecticut is responsible for providing a “minimally adequate education,” not a guarantee that students actually will learn what they should.

“We don’t know what kind of slope we are going down until we say that our system is not going to be constitutional until we get the test results we need,” Rubin said. “This court has never said we can or should expect the schools to overcome every obstacle of poverty.”

But, Palmer asked, “How long does the legislature have to make these results better” before the courts should step in? “I don’t think anyone is saying that the schools have to solve all of societal ills.”

The attorney representing the coalition suing the state, Joseph Moodhe, said it was not asking the court to hold schools responsible for overcoming the effects of poverty but rather to determine whether the state is providing its neediest students with an opportunity to succeed in school.

“Schools are there to educate children no matter how they show up,” said Moodhe, representing the Coalition for Justice in Education Funding.

He argued the state is not adequately doing that, citing testimony at trial in the suit that schools in many impoverished districts had larger classes and less experienced teachers than their better-off neighbors.

“There are additional resources that are needed,” he said.

Some of the justices seemed wary about treading into education funding decisions that typically are left to the legislature.

PATRICK RAYCRAFT | PRAYCRAFT@COURANT.COM

Justice Richard A. Robinson asks a question of the plainfiffs’ lead attorney.

“It reflects my problem of the courts weighing into where the funding should go,” said Palmer. “Who am I to say that? How can we get into those determinations?”

Rubin said the court should resist doing so.

The constitution, he said, gives this authority to the legislature as long as its approach is reasonable, and not the courts. The courts, he argued, are no better suited to resolve these problems.

“The legislature is doing everything they can,” he said.

Justice Richard A. Robinson took issue with Rubin.

“The problem that I am having with the argument is that if something is unconstitutional, you are saying the court still has to lay back because something is difficult. That is not the role of the court. The role of the court is to determine whether something is unconstitutional or not – not how the legislature will fix it, but you will fix it.”

Moodhe said courts must step in when the legislature falls far short, reminding the justices that in places like Bridgeport 90 percent of students are not proficient in math and one-third are not proficient in English.

“Our position is: Legislature, do your job. The court has identified the problem,” he said.

CtMirror.org

A school bus drops off public school students for a tour of the state Capitol. In the background is the state Supreme Court.

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

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas is CT Mirror’s Education and Housing Reporter and an original member of the CT Mirror staff. She has won first-place awards for investigative reporting from state, New England, and national organizations. Before joining CT Mirror in late 2009, Jacqueline was a reporter, online editor and website developer for The Washington Post Co.’s Maryland newspaper chains. She has also worked for Congressional Quarterly and the Toledo Free Press. Jacqueline received an undergraduate degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University and a master’s in public policy from Trinity College.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
With billions in federal relief on the way to CT, legislators assert their role in deciding how to spend it
by Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas

With an unusual bill, state legislators are reminding Gov. Ned Lamont they have significant role in disbursing federal coronavirus relief.

As the push to reopen schools intensifies, Miguel Cardona and first lady Jill Biden travel to Meriden to show how this town did it
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and Adria Watson

Cardona said getting the nation's schools reopened is priority No. 1.

Will getting teachers vaccinated get students back in school full time? It might not be that easy
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, Kasturi Pananjady and Adria Watson

Districts will have to convince parents and students that in-person learning is safe and that students won't bring COVID-19 home.

Senate confirms Miguel Cardona as U.S. Secretary of Education
by Adria Watson

Cardona was the youngest principal in the state of Connecticut.

Report: Twice as many CT high schoolers are in danger of being held back
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

Research released Monday confirms what many parents and educators already suspected — more students than ever are falling behind during the pandemic, a problem especially present among those learning entirely from home in some of the state’s larger districts. The RISE Network tracked about 12,000 students in nine high schools in historically struggling districts to […]

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The Board of Regents’ changes must not shortchange its students or faculty
by Carrie Andreoletti, PhD

As a university professor and a lifespan developmental psychologist, I tend to approach my work from a developmental perspective. This means I aim to foster a lifelong love of learning and to help others find a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as confidence in their ability to reach their goals. My approach to higher education is shaped by my desire to provide the best possible education for my students. This is why the recent Board of Regents’ proposed changes at the four state universities have me worried.

Opinion How to close schooling opportunity gaps created by the pandemic
by Carol Gale

We ask school district leaders to trust your public servants whose daily work life involves assessing student needs and planning or modifying instruction to meet those needs. Listen to their voices, as we have, and allocate precious resources on interventions that will offer increased opportunities for Hartford students to succeed.

Opinion A new guide for schools: How to work with families this spring
by Michael Arrington and Erika Haynes

With months of remote and hybrid learning to go, families and educators continue to adapt and innovate to meet the moment. Since August, we’ve spoken with hundreds of parents, caregivers, family support groups, educators, and students across Connecticut and the country about things things that have worked --strategies, big and small, that have made this time more manageable and helped children learn and stay connected with peers.

Opinion Housing is a human right
by Tenaya Taylor

Nonprofit Accountability Group is a queer- and trans-led group based in Hartford that is dedicated to creating racial equity by directing resources to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and disabled children and families. NAG was founded in 2020 as an organization with a transformative approach to implementing nonprofit accountability by creating relationships within the community, nonprofits, and their funders.

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