What Happened? State Supreme Court Overturns CCJEF v. Rell Decision Leaving School Funding To The Whims Of A Divided Legislature
In the State · Opinion · Reform

What Happened? State Supreme Court Overturns CCJEF v. Rell Decision Leaving School Funding To The Whims Of A Divided Legislature

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Elizabeth Harris with the New York Times wrote that Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher’s 2016 CCJEF v. Rell  decision could “fundamentally reshape public education in Connecticut.” Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim called the ruling “a game changer.” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff of Norwalk said the decision might be the “clarion moment for education reform.” A year later and none of… Continue reading What Happened? State Supreme Court Overturns CCJEF v. Rell Decision Leaving School Funding To The Whims Of A Divided Legislature

Former New London Superintendent Nicholas Fischer: Increased Education Funding Alone Will Not Save Connecticut Schools
Budgets · In the State · Opinion

Former New London Superintendent Nicholas Fischer: Increased Education Funding Alone Will Not Save Connecticut Schools

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There’s a lot of people who believe that increasing funding alone can save low-performing schools. Former New London Superintendent Ph.D. Nicholas A. Fisher disagrees.  In response to the Connecticut Mirror’s three-part series comparing education reform efforts in Connecticut and Massachusettes, Fisher reflects on his own experience as a school leader in both states, asking an important question:… Continue reading Former New London Superintendent Nicholas Fischer: Increased Education Funding Alone Will Not Save Connecticut Schools

Using Data To Draw Conclusions Has It’s Limitations, Especially When You Selectively Cherry Pick: Why You Might Not Want To Believe All The Hype Against Amistad
In the State · New Haven · Opinion

Using Data To Draw Conclusions Has It’s Limitations, Especially When You Selectively Cherry Pick: Why You Might Not Want To Believe All The Hype Against Amistad

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I think it should be a rule: If you’re going to point out the limitations of using school data to draw conclusions, you shouldn’t cherry pick. To illustrate what I mean, take a look at blogger Ann Cronin’s latest anti-charter school piece which targets Amistad High School in New Haven, a school that’s received national… Continue reading Using Data To Draw Conclusions Has It’s Limitations, Especially When You Selectively Cherry Pick: Why You Might Not Want To Believe All The Hype Against Amistad

[VIDEO] Connecticut Mom Gwen Samuel Brings Real Talk To American Enterprise Institute’s Panel On “Schooling in America”
In the State · Reform

[VIDEO] Connecticut Mom Gwen Samuel Brings Real Talk To American Enterprise Institute’s Panel On “Schooling in America”

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Education policy panels tend to be posturing, jargon-heavy affairs, however on Wednesday, Connecticut mom and president of the CT Parents Union, Gwen Samuels, brought some much needed real talk to the American Enterprise Institute’s (AEI) panel on “Schools in America.” Check out her comments linked in the video below: The AEI panel discussion centered on a recently… Continue reading [VIDEO] Connecticut Mom Gwen Samuel Brings Real Talk To American Enterprise Institute’s Panel On “Schooling in America”

In Hartford This Year 1000 Less Students Attended Integrated School
Hartford

In Hartford This Year 1000 Less Students Attended Integrated School

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Hartford’s Open Choice and magnet school systems are often lauded as the gold-standard when it comes to voluntary integration, but it turns out that over the past year things aren’t going as well as previously reported. On Tuesday, the Hartford Courant published data that shows that the number of students attending schools with a “reduced-isolation setting”… Continue reading In Hartford This Year 1000 Less Students Attended Integrated School

New Haven Gets New Superintendent Amidst “Community” Unrest: Who Is Actually Fueling The Outrage & Misinformation?
Bridgeport · In the State · New Haven

New Haven Gets New Superintendent Amidst “Community” Unrest: Who Is Actually Fueling The Outrage & Misinformation?

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After over a year,  New Haven’s Board of Education finally appointed a new superintendent, Bridgeport native Dr. Carol Birks — and boy, does she already have her hands full politically. On the eve of Monday’s school board vote, about fifty protestors organized a rally against her appointment on the steps of New Haven’s city hall. According to… Continue reading New Haven Gets New Superintendent Amidst “Community” Unrest: Who Is Actually Fueling The Outrage & Misinformation?

Republican Chris Taylor Wins Recount In Bridgeport: What Will This Mean For Students?
Bridgeport · In the State

Republican Chris Taylor Wins Recount In Bridgeport: What Will This Mean For Students?

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After Wednesday’s recount, Bridgeport’s Board of Education make up will be dramatically different — now the question is,  what will that mean for students? For years, the Park city’s school board has been made up of two clear factions: Members decidedly against school choice and the mayor — Maria Pereira, Howard Gardner, Sauda Baraka and… Continue reading Republican Chris Taylor Wins Recount In Bridgeport: What Will This Mean For Students?

Newly Elected Bridgeport BOE Member Jessica Martinez Explains Why She Ran And What She Sees As Her Path Forward
Bridgeport · In the State

Newly Elected Bridgeport BOE Member Jessica Martinez Explains Why She Ran And What She Sees As Her Path Forward

Jessica Muniz-MartinezLeave a comment

Today, I am extremely honored to announce that I have been elected to the Bridgeport Board of Education. I am eager for the opportunity to represent all parents and students in Bridgeport, and I hope to be an advocate for our community as we move the district forward. In Bridgeport, we are chartering a new… Continue reading Newly Elected Bridgeport BOE Member Jessica Martinez Explains Why She Ran And What She Sees As Her Path Forward

What Is Wrong With This Picture? Norwalk Votes In BOE With Zero Minority Representation
In the State

What Is Wrong With This Picture? Norwalk Votes In BOE With Zero Minority Representation

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Even though 70 percent of Norwalk students are Black and/or Hispanic, as of Tuesday, Norwalk’s school board will be 100 percent white.  What’s even more messed up is how this happen. Generally, Norwalk’s Democratic Town Councils endorses incumbent candidates, but according to the Norwalk Hour, the committee passed over the lone-minority candidate, Shirley Mosby. This is unheard of, yet… Continue reading What Is Wrong With This Picture? Norwalk Votes In BOE With Zero Minority Representation

Our Voices Were Absent In The Court Room: Bridgeport Mom Jessica Martinez Reflects On Connecticut School Funding Appeal
Bridgeport · In the State

Our Voices Were Absent In The Court Room: Bridgeport Mom Jessica Martinez Reflects On Connecticut School Funding Appeal

Jessica Muniz-MartinezLeave a comment

Last month, the Connecticut Supreme Court heard the appeal of the education case, Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding (CCJEF) v. Rell. The lawsuit’s Plaintiffs, a group of students, parents and the nonprofit organization, CCJEF, sued the state, arguing that our funding formula is unconstitutional and has created extreme inequality in our education system. I’m… Continue reading Our Voices Were Absent In The Court Room: Bridgeport Mom Jessica Martinez Reflects On Connecticut School Funding Appeal