WASHINGTON – Opposed by powerful teachers unions but backed by civil rights groups, legislation sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy aimed at boosting school accountability in a proposed education overhaul failed in the Senate Wednesday.
K-12
Posted inEducation, Politics
Looney, Sharkey hedge on overriding Malloy veto
The Connecticut General Assembly expects to convene Monday for a one-day veto session, but legislative leaders expressed uncertainty Wednesday about whether lawmakers would attempt their first override of a veto by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Murphy hopes to amend education bill to address civil rights concerns
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy hopes to amend a new federal education bill so that problem schools and under-performing students could be more clearly identified — and given the help they need. The new bill before the Senate would replace the controversial No Child Left Behind Act.
Posted inEducation, Politics
CT lawmakers join other Dems in opposing House education bill
WASHINGTON — A bill that would overhaul federal education law and replace the controversial No Child Left Behind Act was approved in the House of Representatives Thursday without a single Democratic vote. Rep Elizabeth Esty said the bill “guts education funding…and turns our back on our schools, our communities, and our children.”
Posted inEducation, Politics
Malloy signs charter-school transparency bill
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, whose strong backing of charter schools has strained his relationship with unionized public-school teachers, has sided with the unions by signing legislation increasing charter-schools’ transparency under the Freedom of Information Act.
Posted inEducation
CT’s new education chief describes her vision for the state
During her first month on the job, new education Commissioner Dianna Wentzell toured several schools and laid out her vision for Connecticut’s education system to state legislators.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Achievement gap an issue as Congress considers new ed bill
WASHINGTON – Connecticut elementary students have among the highest reading and math scores in the nation, but a stubborn achievement gap persists between the state’s highest- and lowest-performing schools, said a White House report issued Monday.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
Behind The Numbers Podcast – Episode 6: Charter schools, state aid and UConn in a lean budget
Connecticut Mirror budget reporter Keith M. Phaneuf and education reporter Jacqueline Rabe Thomas discuss the new $40.3 billion, two-year state budget legislators sent to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, and its impact on every level of education from preschool to colleges and universities.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
School funding in Connecticut is fundamentally flawed, all agree
Connecticut’s funding system for all public schools is fundamentally broken. This dysfunction causes the incessant fighting over the state budget each year. Connecticut needs a funding solution for every school – charter, district, magnet, and the rest – that ensures that all students have the resources they need to learn.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Fix Connecticut’s broken school funding system
We know that a great education can be life changing for so many students. Looking ahead, we must continue to ensure that we have a funding system that puts a great public education within reach of every child. The economic and civic future of our students, our communities and our state, depends on it.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut education: Getting it right in the future
The bad news for education in Connecticut is that in the state budget, which takes effect on July 1, money will be spent on charter schools for 2 percent of Connecticut children that would have been better spent on the other 98 percent of Connecticut children. The good news is if the Connecticut legislature wants to address that kind of injustice, it now has the power to do so.
Posted inEducation
Evaluation — a dirty word to Connecticut teachers?
The state panel that developed Connecticut’s teacher evaluation system three years ago met Wednesday to find ways to instill confidence in its utility among the state’s teachers. The mission: ensure it is used to improve the profession and learning among students.
Posted inEducation
At last minute, an attempt to undo charter school FOI action
An attempt was made in the final hours of the General Assembly session last week to negate adopted legislation making charter schools subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act. It’s unclear whether the attempt will be renewed in the upcoming special session since no one is taking responsibility for it.
Posted inEducation
Bloomfield schools stage a comeback
BLOOMFIELD — Only a few years ago, Bloomfield High School was one of the state’s lowest-performing schools, a symbol of the chronic achievement gap afflicting low-income and minority students. But much has changed. In a state with some of the largest achievement gaps in the nation, a promising turnaround – in all of Bloomfield’s schools – has caught the attention of state officials and education reform organizations.
Posted inEducation
State funding boost helps, but still leaves UConn with deficit
The University of Connecticut informed students and faculty Friday that, despite $10.9 million in increased support in the state budget next year, cuts will still be needed to close an $18.3 million deficit in the university budget.