Parents and students across the state can rest assured that their children’s’ schools will not be defunded.

On Wednesday night, mere minutes before the close of the legislative session, Senate Democrats were able to break a Republican filibuster and pass a two-year budget plan that retains funding for new charter schools seats – including the funding for two new schools in Bridgeport and Stamford.

This comes after months of uncertainty.

As readers of the blog may remember the state Appropriations Committee advanced a budget plan in April that cut funding for Capital Prep Harbor School in Bridgeport and Stamford Charter Schools of Excellence in Stamford, as well as hundreds of new seats at existing charter schools.

In total over 860 students were at risk of losing their seats, including over 250 in Bridgeport alone.

Due in large part to the efforts Gov. Dannel Malloy, who remained committed to expanding access to high quality schools, Senate and House Democrats agreed on a budget that makes substantial investments in public education.

Other highlights from the new budget (numbers courtesy of ConnCAN’s in-depth budget analysis):

• An additional $31.2 million for expanding magnet school enrollment.
• $30.1 million in new funding for traditional public schools through the Educational Cost Sharing grant. The largest boost goes to Bridgeport, which will receive a $3.4 million increase.
• A $6 million increase for Schools Readiness spots and Head Start over the next two years.

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