Bridgeport

Bridgeport Will Soon Require High School Students Take African American Or Latin Studies, But Will Other CT Towns Follow Suit?

It’s not often that I can give kudos to Bridgeport’s Board of Education, but recently they made a decision worthy of praise. Last week, members unanimously approved changing the graduation requirements, making it a requirement for all high school students to take a half-year course in either African American Studies, Caribean/Latin American Studies or Perspectives on… Continue reading Bridgeport Will Soon Require High School Students Take African American Or Latin Studies, But Will Other CT Towns Follow Suit?

In the State

Is The Latest State Budget Deal Good For Education?

For over four months state leaders have been in a stalemate over the budget, but as of this week, they’ve come to a compromise. A bipartisan budget is set to be approved this week and it’s a mixed bag when it comes to education. On the one hand, the latest budget deal finally fixes the… Continue reading Is The Latest State Budget Deal Good For Education?

In the State

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

On Friday, the Department of Education announced they were rescinding 72 “outdated, unnecessary and ineffective” policy documents, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut down on regulations.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

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?

Hartford · In the State

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

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

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