Issue Position: K-12 Education & Vo-Tech

Issue Position

In the past 20 years, the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula has been fully funded only twice and legislators in Hartford continually tweak the formula to gain political favor instead of thinking about the needs of our children, the needs of our schools or the needs of our state. Education is the best investment we can make in our future, and funding it should not be a political question.

For example, in fiscal year 2019, Waterbury's Education Cost Sharing Grant will be underfunded by more than $60 million, according to the Connecticut School Finance Project. During fiscal year 2019, Waterbury is slated to receive $136.6 million in Education Cost Sharing funding -- $22.5 million is in the form of an Alliance Grant. Waterbury is not alone: many rural, suburban and urban communities now have different student populations and different needs than they did in decades past, but state funding has not been adjusted to support these communities, and the lack of transparency with how funding is dispersed further impedes fair distribution of funding.

By implementing the education funding formula as it was written -- based on need -- we can begin to address the disparities that are present in our educational system.

The education achievement gaps between our districts is heartbreaking, because it means that some of our children are being left behind. The increasing segregation of our classrooms is distressing. And we must do more to make sure that we don't slip further behind Massachusetts or other states in K-12 education quality.

As we continue to address the education achievement gap that is present across the state, we need to look at what public school systems like Macdonough Elementary School in Middletown are doing to foster a better teaching and learning environment.

During the 2017-18 academic year, Macdonough Elementary School faced the possibility of closure to offset a cut in state and municipal aid. As one of 33 Alliance Districts in the state, the Middletown public school system has taken critical steps to close its achievement gap by focusing on improving test scores, increasing instructional time and creating a more diverse staff that is reflective of the student body.

Macdonough has also worked to prepare our students for a 21st-century economy by teaching them problem-solving skills and how to think critically through the school's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program. Macdonough's STEM program targets students in grades four and five with a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning.

STEM-related careers are among the fastest-growing jobs in Connecticut. We need to encourage all students -- regardless of their race or gender -- to pursue a STEM education so we can create a more diverse talent pool.

As governor, I will work tirelessly on my first day and every day to improve educational access, equity and outcomes in the state. I am proud to support a comprehensive education reform platform to expand access to childcare and early childhood education; to improve K-12 education; to expand workforce development programs; and to make college accessible to all.

That's why as governor, I will prioritize:

Fixing and fully-funding the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula so that our school districts have the resources to educate our children.
Boosting academic achievement of all students by encouraging more diversity among our teachers. Research shows that teachers of color significantly improve the learning of all students, especially for students of color. Hiring and retaining qualified teachers is so important to closing our achievement gap.
Promoting STEAM education in our K-12 schools. Specifically, I strongly support incorporating computer science and statistics into our K-12 curriculum, similarly to what our neighbors have done in Rhode Island.
Reducing class sizes and student-to-counselor ratios, and incorporating more social workers in our schools.
Promoting restorative justice and social and emotional learning in schools, and making our schools trauma-sensitive.
Continuing to improve reading, math, and executive function skills in our early grades. One step is to continue to reduce chronic absenteeism in our schools.
Promoting high school-private sector engagements to teach fundamental professional skills.
Creating incentives in state funding that promote cost-efficiencies through regional collaboration on everything from back room functions, to curriculum development, to administrative personnel, and even to school districts themselves facing declining enrollments.

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