What’s Going on With Bridgeport

Are We Really Back Here Again? Fighting Over City-Run After-School Program Boils Over
Bridgeport · In the State

Are We Really Back Here Again? Fighting Over City-Run After-School Program Boils Over

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Does this scene look familiar? It should. pic.twitter.com/G7ZfecJDuv — linda lambeck (@lclambeck) May 23, 2017 (video above is from a tweet by Connecticut Post report Linda Lambeck’s) As you can see, this exchange has happened before. Bridgeport Board of Education member Maria Pereira has been fighting with former City Attorney Mark Anastasi (and the city as… Continue reading Are We Really Back Here Again? Fighting Over City-Run After-School Program Boils Over

One Parent Says On Connecticut’s Broken Education Funding System: “Not My City, Not My Son, Not My Children”
Bridgeport · In the State

One Parent Says On Connecticut’s Broken Education Funding System: “Not My City, Not My Son, Not My Children”

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“I said not my city, not my son, not my children, not these children” — these are the words of Bridgeport parent Jessica Martinez, who, last Tuesday morning retold the story of how she became active in the fight for educational equity to a room of over 300 onlookers.  Jessica is the lead plaintiff in Martinez… Continue reading One Parent Says On Connecticut’s Broken Education Funding System: “Not My City, Not My Son, Not My Children”

A Powerful Message From A Bridgeport Teacher In The Wake Of A Police Shooting: These Kids Need Our Help
Bridgeport

A Powerful Message From A Bridgeport Teacher In The Wake Of A Police Shooting: These Kids Need Our Help

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This past week has been difficult for Bridgeport. On Tuesday, a young boy was killed. 15-year-old Jayson Negron was fatally shot by police, after a block-long pursuit in an allegedly stolen car. His body was left on the street, handcuffed and uncovered for over 7 hours. I wanted to share with my readers a Facebook… Continue reading A Powerful Message From A Bridgeport Teacher In The Wake Of A Police Shooting: These Kids Need Our Help

Guest Post: “Parents Must Get Involved In The Fight For Quality Public Education”
Bridgeport · In the State

Guest Post: “Parents Must Get Involved In The Fight For Quality Public Education”

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Originally posted on the ConnCAN Blog, this is a guest post from Bridgeport parent Jessica Martinez. Jessica is longtime local education activist and the lead plaintiff in Martinez V. Malloy — a lawsuit currently in the federal courts that challenge the state’s moratorium on magnet schools and charter school cap.  —- As a mother in… Continue reading Guest Post: “Parents Must Get Involved In The Fight For Quality Public Education”

UPDATE: Caustic Political Environment Nearly Claims Another Victim: Day Later Superintendent Candidate Decides To Give It Another Shot
Bridgeport

UPDATE: Caustic Political Environment Nearly Claims Another Victim: Day Later Superintendent Candidate Decides To Give It Another Shot

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UPDATE:  It turns out Bridgeport’s superintendent pool is back to two.  On Tuesday, a day after school board members were informed that Angella Katrise Perera was dropping out of the running for superintendent, Perera decided she may “something to offer the district.” Perera had dropped out of the running on Sunday, after receiving “inappropriate” messages… Continue reading UPDATE: Caustic Political Environment Nearly Claims Another Victim: Day Later Superintendent Candidate Decides To Give It Another Shot

A History Of Inequity & Resistance: Community and Legislators Get Together For Round Table On Education Justice
Bridgeport · In the State

A History Of Inequity & Resistance: Community and Legislators Get Together For Round Table On Education Justice

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What are the emerging patterns of control and resistance? How does the history [of education inequity] connect to issues you identified as being most important? These are just some of the questions a room of about a hundred attendees contemplated at Housatonic Community College last Saturday morning — the start of what Founder and Organizing… Continue reading A History Of Inequity & Resistance: Community and Legislators Get Together For Round Table On Education Justice

Bridgeport Becomes Safe Haven For All Students
Bridgeport

Bridgeport Becomes Safe Haven For All Students

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A day after over a hundred Bridgeport residents rallied at City Hall, asking the city council to make the city a “sanctuary cit”y— and basically ignored by Mayor Joseph Ganim— the Bridgeport school board voted 6-0 to make Bridgeport Public Schools a safe haven for undocumented students and families. The Connecticut Post has the story: “Board member… Continue reading Bridgeport Becomes Safe Haven For All Students

If Charter Schools Are “Discriminating” Against English Language Learners, Then So Are Magnet Schools
Bridgeport · Hartford · In the State · New Haven

If Charter Schools Are “Discriminating” Against English Language Learners, Then So Are Magnet Schools

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Can we please have a real discussion on charter school demographics? I say this because the misrepresentation of facts on the subject has gotten seriously out of hand. Last week, former state legislator-turned-blogger Jonathan Pelto attacked Bridgeport charter schools, claiming that they refuse to educate their fair share English Language Learners and other students that require additional services (He… Continue reading If Charter Schools Are “Discriminating” Against English Language Learners, Then So Are Magnet Schools

On Eve Of Trump’s Inauguration, In Bridgeport, Immigrant Justice Activists Rallied For Education Equity and Sanctuary
Bridgeport · In the State

On Eve Of Trump’s Inauguration, In Bridgeport, Immigrant Justice Activists Rallied For Education Equity and Sanctuary

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On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, a group often overlooked demanded to be heard: Bridgeport’s Spanish-speaking and immigrant parents. Yesterday, about a dozen parents and students organized by Make The Road, an immigrants’ rights group, marched in front of Bassick High School — one of lowest performing high schools in the state — brandishing… Continue reading On Eve Of Trump’s Inauguration, In Bridgeport, Immigrant Justice Activists Rallied For Education Equity and Sanctuary

New Beginnings Family Academy’s Ronelle P. Swagerty Schools Detractors On Charter Innovation
Bridgeport · In the State

New Beginnings Family Academy’s Ronelle P. Swagerty Schools Detractors On Charter Innovation

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As of late, collaboration between charter schools and traditional public schools has been a big topic of discussion in Connecticut — specifically, whether charters are working as the “laboratories for innovation” that they were meant to be (which, in itself, is debatable). The reason for the sudden uptick in focus is pretty obvious. With the governor announcing… Continue reading New Beginnings Family Academy’s Ronelle P. Swagerty Schools Detractors On Charter Innovation