DECEMBER 2016 ARTICLES
December 30, 2016
CT MIRROR: State appeal of education ruling: 5 things to know
“A Hartford Superior Court judge three months ago deemed the state’s education funding system unconstitutional and ordered the General Assembly and the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to revamp how Connecticut funds and oversees its schools…”
December 29, 2016
HARTFORD COURANT: SUPERINTENDENT EVALS PUBLIC UNDER STATE LAW, BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT THAT WAY
“The superintendent is the only public school employee whose annual performance review is subject to public scrutiny under Connecticut state law, but don't bother looking for those appraisals in Farmington, or West Hartford, or any number of communities throughout the state…”
HARTFORD COURANT: State Cuts $50 Million In School, Municipal Funding
“Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration announced $50 million in new cuts in state aid to municipalities Thursday, including a $20 million reduction in education funding that local officials said could result in school layoffs…”
December 28, 2016
Education World: Charter School Debate Persists in Connecticut After State Request for Proposals
“For the first time in three years, Connecticut's Department of Education has announced it will be accepting proposals for charter schools between July 1 and August 15 of next year…”
December 27, 2016
Wall Street Journal: Clash Over Connecticut Schools Flares Anew
“Connecticut’s teachers unions and school-advocacy groups are seizing on a recent court ruling that criticized the state public education system to push for a funding overhaul…”
December 26, 2016
New Britain Herald: Changes in special ed funding recommended
“An organization is looking to change the way special education funding is distributed in the state…”
HARTFORD COURANT: Another Push to Delay Linking Teacher Evaluations With Test Scores
“More time is needed before requiring that teachers be evaluated based in part on student test scores…”
December 22, 2016
Connecticut Law Tribune: Sandy Hook, Education Funding Fight Top 2017's Cases to Watch
“The Connecticut Supreme Court bypassed a lower court last month to hear an appeal from several families whose loved ones were killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, and who are trying to sue the manufacturers of the gun used…”
December 15, 2016
Hartford Courant: Education Official: State Could Violate Federal Law Under Judge's School Reform Ruling
“A U.S. Department of Education official has issued a warning that a portion of the September Superior Court ruling in a Connecticut school funding case could potentially lead to violations of federal special education law…”
CT POST: Two priorities for Assembly next month
“We wish Connecticut’s legislators, both new and returning, the most peaceful and joyous holiday season…”
December 14, 2016
NEW HAVEN REGISTER: Connecticut School Finance Project proposes special education spending model
“Katie Roy, director and founder of the Connecticut School Finance Project, has a proposition for the way special education is funded in state school districts…”
December 13, 2016
CT MIRROR: What Does A High School Diploma Prove?
“The question was straightforward: Is it possible for a student to make it all the way through his or her senior year, be given a high school diploma – and be illiterate?..”
December 12, 2016
NY TIMES: It Turns Out Spending More Probably Does Improve Education
“If you spend more on education, will students do better? Educators, politicians and unions have battled in court over that crucial question for decades, most recently in a sweeping decision this fall in Connecticut, where a judge ordered the state to revamp nearly every facet of its education policies, from graduation requirements to special education, along with its school funding…”
December 11, 2016
NEW HAVEN REGISTER: Local charter schools innovating with unclear district collaboration
“Proponents of both charter and traditional public schools can agree on at least one thing: the initial intent of the Connecticut charter law, signed 20 years ago, was for charter schools to serve as “laboratories of innovation” in collaboration with school districts…”
December 4, 2016
Register Citizen: Connecticut NAACP Keeping Education A Top Priority, Including Charter School Concerns
“Racial disparities in employment, housing, health, law enforcement, and a new president, are all issues the NAACP continued to discuss throughout 2016. But starting a nationwide discussion on education, more specifically charter schools, was a top priority at the Connecticut NAACP’s annual state convention Saturday…”
December 2, 2016
NBC Connecticut: Stepping Up Minority Teacher Recruitment in Connecticut
“Principals, Human Resources directors and superintendents from the state’s major urban school districts gathered for two days in New Haven to meet with representatives from historically black colleges and universities about bringing their graduates to Connecticut for education jobs…”
Hartford Courant: CT Students Tackle Climate Change As Part Of Model U.N. Program
“Climate change was the topic of a model United Nations program on Friday where nearly 1,000 high school students from around Connecticut got a sense how world leaders tackle the issue…”