What Will The Removal Of Disability Guidelines Mean For Students? A Personal Story On The Potential Impact

October 24, 2017October 25, 2017 meganLeave a comment

On Friday, the Department of Education announced they were rescinding 72 “outdated, unnecessary and ineffective” policy documents, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut down on regulations. You might think, ok, no big deal, but some of those documents outlined the rights of students with disabilities. As Temple University Professor Douglas Webber explained in a Twitter… Continue reading What Will The Removal Of Disability Guidelines Mean For Students? A Personal Story On The Potential Impact

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

October 12, 2017October 17, 2017 meganLeave a comment

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?

Hartford · In the State

Gwen Samuel: “We Parents Don’t Need Other People’s Permission To Raise Our Children!”

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 Guest ContributorLeave a comment

Wanted to share with my readers the latest by parent rights advocate and founder of the Connecticut Parent’s Union, Gwen Samuel, where she takes on the normalization of stereotypes about black parents — Check it out: ” The Struggle is still so real – sigh… The stereotypes and prejudgments about Black, brown and poor parents… Continue reading Gwen Samuel: “We Parents Don’t Need Other People’s Permission To Raise Our Children!”

Budgets · In the State

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

October 4, 2017 meganLeave a comment

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

In the State

Malloy Fulfills Promise To Veto Republican Budget

September 28, 2017 meganLeave a comment

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

September 23, 2017September 27, 2017 meganLeave a comment

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?

September 23, 2017September 25, 2017 meganLeave a comment

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

September 21, 2017September 23, 2017 meganLeave a comment

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

September 14, 2017 meganLeave a comment

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

September 13, 2017September 13, 2017 meganLeave a comment

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

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