Hartford

Is Our Bar For Successful Desegregation That Low! Are We Really Celebrating Hartford For Desegregating Less Than Half Of The City’s Kids In Twenty Years?

Is the glass half empty or half full? The classic litmus test for optimism. I mention this common rhetorical question because right now I think I may be low on optimism after reading a recent article from The American Prospect, a left-leaning bimonthly magazine, lauding Hartford’s record on desegregation: Hartford, Connecticut, is struggling. Teetering on the brink… Continue reading Is Our Bar For Successful Desegregation That Low! Are We Really Celebrating Hartford For Desegregating Less Than Half Of The City’s Kids In Twenty Years?

In the State · New Haven

[VIDEO] Norwalk’s Board Watch Celebrates Successful Year: Could This Help Other Districts?

Imagine what could happen if parents and community members were actively involved in the school board process? According to Katherine Villanueva, it’s made a big difference.   Villanueva is a mother of three and one of Norwalk’s first Board Watch volunteers. I spoke to her last week during a celebration recognizing Board Watch’s first year: What is… Continue reading [VIDEO] Norwalk’s Board Watch Celebrates Successful Year: Could This Help Other Districts?

Budgets · In the State

Is Another Lawsuit The Answer? Teachers Union Threatens To File Injunction Against State Over Budget

On Monday, the Connecticut Education Association (CEA), the state largest teachers union, announced that they’re planning to file an injunction against the state, attempting to fight back against Gov. Dannel Malloy’s executive order budget, which cuts $557 million from education spending. Now the question is, will filing an injunction prevent cuts? Two towns, Torrington and Brooklyn,… Continue reading Is Another Lawsuit The Answer? Teachers Union Threatens To File Injunction Against State Over Budget

Bridgeport

This Is What Happens When You Play Politics With Education Funding! Harding Students Take To The Street To Demand Answers

I don’t want to hear that kids don’t care about schools ever again! Bridgeport students proved that they absolutely care, even if the information they received was erroneous. On the same day that Gov. Dannel Malloy vetoed the Republican budget plan, Harding High School students in Bridgeport walked out of class and made the 2.5-mile… Continue reading This Is What Happens When You Play Politics With Education Funding! Harding Students Take To The Street To Demand Answers

In the State

Malloy Fulfills Promise To Veto Republican Budget

On Thursday, the same day that the landmark state supreme court case CCJEF v. Rell went back to court, Governor Dannel P. Malloy fulfilled his promise to veto the republic budget bill — basically ensuring that no budget is passed before the October 1st deadline. The Connecticut Post has more on this: “While seemingly pushing back… Continue reading Malloy Fulfills Promise To Veto Republican Budget

Hartford · In the State

On The Other Hand: Amidst Budget Crisis, Millions Leave District Through Large Salaries To Out Of Towners

The budget crisis in Connecticut will be hitting cities hard if state leaders don’t figure out a solution, but that doesn’t mean that the state is totally to blame for the situation places like Hartford are in. A recent blog post by Keven Bookman who manages the Hartford based page We The People wrote something… Continue reading On The Other Hand: Amidst Budget Crisis, Millions Leave District Through Large Salaries To Out Of Towners

Budgets · In the State

What’s A Better Option? No Educational Aid For Some Towns Or Passing A Budget That Gives A 955 Percent Increase To Greenwich Public Schools At The Expense Of Poorer Students?

I have to agree with Gov. Dannel Malloy, though I think I will expand his statements to include his own party: The GOP budget is a “hot mess,” but so is the alternative. As far as schools are concerned, the biggest difference between the governor’s stop gap budget and the GOP plan is one would… Continue reading What’s A Better Option? No Educational Aid For Some Towns Or Passing A Budget That Gives A 955 Percent Increase To Greenwich Public Schools At The Expense Of Poorer Students?

In the State · New Haven

Doesn’t This Sound Familiar? New Haven School Board Infighting Ends In Halted Superintendent Search

In case you need a “poster child” for why politics and education don’t go together, recently New Haven’s school board seems to be taking cues from Bridgeport — where infighting and rancor halted their search for a permanent superintendent nearly three years. If you need a refresher, here’s footage from Bridgeport’s last year: At the… Continue reading Doesn’t This Sound Familiar? New Haven School Board Infighting Ends In Halted Superintendent Search

Bridgeport · In the State

Today State Legislators Should Heed The Words Of Connecticut Parents

Here’s something that state leaders should watch! Below is parent and Bridgeport Board of Education candidate Chaila Robinson’s emotional plea for equitable school funding, where she talks about the real impact of the legislature’s neglect: Bridgeport is in a particularly tough situation. The district had to cut paraprofessionals and other support services due to the… Continue reading Today State Legislators Should Heed The Words Of Connecticut Parents

In the State

Bruce Ravage: Underfunding At Charters Means Students Often Do Without

With the state budget crisis looming, there’s been lots of talk on the underfunding at traditional public schools. What doesn’t get play is the dire situation charter schools face – especially smaller independent schools like Park City Prep in Bridgeport. As Executive Director and founder of Park City Prep Bruce Ravage, writes, the school was… Continue reading Bruce Ravage: Underfunding At Charters Means Students Often Do Without