Parents of students with disabilities spend hours preparing for meetings with school leaders. Still, they say, they’re often belittled and ignored.
Jessika Harkay
Jessika Harkay is CT Mirror’s Education Reporter, covering the K-12 achievement gap, education funding, curriculum, mental health, school safety, inequity and other education topics. Jessika's experience includes roles as a breaking news reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Hartford Courant. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Baylor University.
CT passes K-12 education bills aimed at improving teaching environment
Educators hope the passage of two education bills will push schools a few steps closer to a more sustainable teaching environment.
Yale clash over divestment continues after Gaza protests, arrests
Pro-Palestine organizers formed an encampment, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and for Yale to divest from military weapon manufacturers.
As ESSER funding expires, CT superintendents worry about cuts
Many CT superintendents are worrying about student mental health needs, the rising costs of special education and more as funding ends.
Despite FAFSA trouble, Miguel Cardona points to CT successes
Shaking off FAFSA criticisms, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona voiced support for a program that expands education for the incarcerated.
With CT school suspensions and expulsions rising, bill aims to help
A CT bill would require that suspended students receive ‘trauma-informed’ services and limit some out-of-school suspensions to two days.
CT bills would fight teacher shortage by changing pay, certification
The bills would increase CT starting salaries for teachers and paraeducators, as well as simplify the path for teacher certification.
CT students, university staff clash over proposed textbook fee
A plan to charge a textbook fee at CT state universities led to questions about whether it would be more harmful or beneficial to students.
CT employee raises could hinder aid for higher education
CT higher ed officials say raises for state employees could complicate their already uphill climb to close deficits and preserve programs.
CT proposal to limit school safety drills fails
An effort to reduce the number of safety drills in CT schools was stripped from an education bill after criticism from Newtown stakeholders.
Legacy admissions ban among CT bills to make it out of committee
The committee moved forward some pieces of CT legislation that may encourage more diversity in post-secondary education.
Report claims ‘alarming lack of oversight’ of CT special ed schools
Hundreds of CT students who attended High Road Schools were subjected to restraints, seclusion and uncertified teachers, a report found.
CT urges students to apply for $10K educator diversity scholarship
Under the program, students from CT’s priority districts, can receive up to $10K each year to pursue a career in education.
CT lawmakers urged to delay kindergarten age change
CT stakeholders are saying the legislature moved too fast on the kindergarten age change law and are urging them to delay implementation.
CT higher ed students, faculty plead for funding boost at hearing
Gov. Lamont has remained adamant that higher education systems should have been preparing to live without the expiring COVID relief funds.