What’s Going on With Students

Bridgeport Superintendent Resigns: Yet Another Victim Of Hostile School Board Politics
Bridgeport · Reform · Students

Bridgeport Superintendent Resigns: Yet Another Victim Of Hostile School Board Politics

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I should congratulate Maria Pereira! She finally got her way. To the detriment of 21,000 Bridgeport children, she’s finally pushed Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz out of the district. Good Job. With her help, Bridgeport became the third urban school district this month to abruptly lose its superintendent mid-year. In her resignation letter, sent on Wednesday and addressed to school… Continue reading Bridgeport Superintendent Resigns: Yet Another Victim Of Hostile School Board Politics

The Month Without Meetings: Bridgeport Board Of Education Boycott Continues, While Residents Hold Their Own In Protest
Students

The Month Without Meetings: Bridgeport Board Of Education Boycott Continues, While Residents Hold Their Own In Protest

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As of October 1st, the Bridgeport Board of Education has gone an entire month without holding a single regular school board meeting. That means for the month of September all decisions were halted, including the rehiring of kindergarten paraprofessionals and the search for a new superintendent. “The truth is this would never fly in Greenwich.… Continue reading The Month Without Meetings: Bridgeport Board Of Education Boycott Continues, While Residents Hold Their Own In Protest

Sorry, Not Sorry: Recent Events In New Haven Prove “High-Stakes Testing” Is A Complete And Utter Myth
Bridgeport · New Haven · Students

Sorry, Not Sorry: Recent Events In New Haven Prove “High-Stakes Testing” Is A Complete And Utter Myth

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Editor’s note: The following rant is not for the eyes of children. You have been warned. —–   What does the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and high-stakes testing in Connecticut all have in common? Stumped? Well, I hate to break it to you, but none of those things exist.   Have I destroyed your… Continue reading Sorry, Not Sorry: Recent Events In New Haven Prove “High-Stakes Testing” Is A Complete And Utter Myth

Will Things Ever Really Change? CCJEF Appeal Or Not, Bridgeport Needs State Leaders To Act!
Reform · Students

Will Things Ever Really Change? CCJEF Appeal Or Not, Bridgeport Needs State Leaders To Act!

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Last Wednesday, about 40 parents gathered in front of Geraldine Johnson School in Bridgeport, demanding the resignation of the school board member Maria Pereira. The situation has gotten so bad, that some are even asking for state intervention. “This is only happening in Bridgeport, Connecticut,” said parent Wanda Simmons during the rally.  “Our children are… Continue reading Will Things Ever Really Change? CCJEF Appeal Or Not, Bridgeport Needs State Leaders To Act!

Bridgeport Board In Complete Disarray During Pivotal Time
Reform · Standards · Students

Bridgeport Board In Complete Disarray During Pivotal Time

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What a shameful state of affairs — on the very same day the New York Times published an article detailing the gross inequity faced by students attending Bridgeport schools, a political feud between board members halted the city’s school board. Monday afternoon, the Connecticut Post reported that school board chairman Dennis Bradley canceled the school… Continue reading Bridgeport Board In Complete Disarray During Pivotal Time

Hartford Loses Superintendent Two Weeks After Start Of School Year
Hartford · Students

Hartford Loses Superintendent Two Weeks After Start Of School Year

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Bridgeport isn’t the only Connecticut city in the market for a new Superintendent. Yesterday, a mere nine days after the start of the school year, it was announced that Hartford —one of the state’s most troubled districts — will lose its Superintendent. Hartford, like Bridgeport, has been plagued by a revolving door of school leaders.… Continue reading Hartford Loses Superintendent Two Weeks After Start Of School Year

Bridgeport and Hartford Parents Make History! File Groundbreaking Equity Lawsuit Against State Of Connecticut
Bridgeport · Hartford · Reform · Students

Bridgeport and Hartford Parents Make History! File Groundbreaking Equity Lawsuit Against State Of Connecticut

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It’s really no secret that, in Bridgeport, a seat at one of the city’s six high-performing magnet schools is highly coveted. Last year alone, Bridgeport Public Schools received over 6,700 applications from K-8th-grade students, all vying for a chance at hundreds of open slots. Each year, thousands of parents pack open houses, many applying to… Continue reading Bridgeport and Hartford Parents Make History! File Groundbreaking Equity Lawsuit Against State Of Connecticut

Bridgeport’s School Board Disintegrates Into Chaos Over New Appointee
Students

Bridgeport’s School Board Disintegrates Into Chaos Over New Appointee

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The Bridgeport School Board fell into chaos, again. Fighting and rancor is nothing new at school board meetings — a fact which regular readers of the blog are painfully aware — but, this time, things got out of hand. I mean, really out of hand. As you can see in the video, school board member… Continue reading Bridgeport’s School Board Disintegrates Into Chaos Over New Appointee

Bridgeport Teachers Tell Like It Is: Diary of Underfunding In Connecticut Urban Schools
Budgets · Students

Bridgeport Teachers Tell Like It Is: Diary of Underfunding In Connecticut Urban Schools

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Here is some summer required reading for state legislators. Originally published in the New Haven Register,  A group of nine Bridgeport teachers wrote a powerful letter describing how the conditions at chronically underfunded schools gradually tear down the self-worth of students.   The letter was a response to a comment made by the Director and… Continue reading Bridgeport Teachers Tell Like It Is: Diary of Underfunding In Connecticut Urban Schools

Bridgeport Mayor Appoints New School Board Member: Should She Remain?
Students

Bridgeport Mayor Appoints New School Board Member: Should She Remain?

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After months of back and forth between a divided school board, Mayor Joseph Ganim took matters into his own hands last Saturday, appointing Republican Annette Segarra-Negron to the vacant Bridgeport Board of Education seat left when David Hennessey resigned in May. Unfortunately, the drama surrounding Hennessey resignation is by no means settled. Last month, Bridgeport… Continue reading Bridgeport Mayor Appoints New School Board Member: Should She Remain?