Nearly all of Bridgeport’s 20,000 students are identified as “high-needs.” Local board members have clashed over how to serve them.
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.
Posted inEducation
Poll: Voters say CT must spend more on K-12 education
CT voters are satisfied with the quality of public schools but most believe the state should cover more of the cost, according to a new poll.
Posted inEducation
CT State BOE grants ‘initial approval’ to five new charter schools
The CT Board of Ed’s approval is a first step for charter schools in Ansonia, New Haven, Waterbury and Stamford, They now need state funding.
Posted inEducation
CT city mayors, school superintendents want state to boost funding by $545M
Mayors and superintendents in CT’s five largest cities said they need more money to educate their large numbers of high-need students.
Posted inPolitics
CT House, Senate Dems highlight priorities in rare joint conference
It’s uncommon for the CT House and Senate to announce joint plans. But on Monday they did, naming education and housing as 2025 priorities.
Posted inEducation
CT Attorney General announces preliminary settlement with Stone Academy students
The agreement resolves several separate legal proceedings, including a case former students filed against CT officials
Posted inEducation
CT public higher ed institutions brace for budget negotiations
UConn and CSCU say their funding requests are ‘conservative’. But Lamont called out higher ed leaders, saying other states do more with less.
Posted inPolitics
Lamont frames a 2025 agenda, stinting on solutions
Lamont sidestepped the coming budget debate and identified lowering costs of housing, electricity, health care and higher education as goals.
Posted inEducation
CT lawmakers to prioritize special education in 2025 session
Connecticut’s Education Committee will address special education funding and services — as well as other debates involving funding — in 2025.
Posted inEducation
BEST OF 2024: This Hartford Public High School grad can’t read. Here’s how it happened.
The young woman’s inability to read or write, her attorney said, may be one of the ‘most shocking cases’ of educational neglect she’s seen in 24 years.
Posted inCrossing Connecticut
CT ‘Society of Santas’ shares memories: ‘You can’t break character’
The Connecticut Society of Santas is a network of over 75 people who have taken on roles as Santa, Mrs. Claus or elves. Here are some of their stories.
Posted inEducation
GOP lawmakers seek state accountability for graduate who can’t read
In multiple letters to the education commissioner, state Senate leaders requested funding records and asked how the Hartford public schools system failed to serve Aleysha Ortiz.
Posted inEducation
Nearly all CSCU presidents misspent state funds, audit finds
Findings came in response to Gov. Ned Lamont’s request for ‘a comprehensive report’ on state university system’s finances in late October.
Posted inEducation
Aleysha Ortiz, CT high school grad who can’t read, sues Hartford
Ortiz alleges she was bullied, harassed and/or neglected by staff in the Hartford Public High School district, including her special ed case manager.
Posted inEducation
More CT teachers issuing votes of no confidence in superintendents
CT teacher unions are using the votes to show dissatisfaction with leadership they say is uncommunicative, inexperienced or out of touch.
