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In the News
January 18, 2012
New Haven Register

 Connecticut lost ground in the annual ranking of state laws that govern charter schools, mainly because other states such as Maine and New Mexico passed more progressive reforms in the past year.

January 15, 2012
Hartford Courant

 When Gov. Dannel P. Malloy put education reform on the front burner for 2012, he caught a wave of public sentiment that has been building for a couple of years in every corner of the state. Everybody from superintendents and the state's largest teachers union to business leaders, advocacy groups, parents and political leaders wants to improve the state's public schools.

January 15, 2012
CT Now / Fox 61

"Major education reforms for Connecticut are planned for this year, and I'm here with Michael Sharpe, Director of Jamoke Academy, one of the fastest rising charter schools in Connecticut, in Hartford, [and] Patrick Riccards, the new CEO/President of ConnCAN..."

January 8, 2012
CT News Junkie

By Patrick Riccards, CEO, ConnCAN

Last week, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made a passionate case for why we all must commit to education reform in 2012. Speaking at his education reform summit, the governor made clear that school improvement is a team effort, requiring the involvement of all stakeholders.

January 4, 2012
Connecticut Post

About the only top slot the constitution state still clings to is "largest achievement gap in the nation."

So educational reform advocates say much is riding on Malloy's pledge that 2012 will be the year of education reform.

Malloy is hosting an Education Workshop Thursday at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. Many invited are convinced the policies that begin to take shape there may lead to legislation that can transform the state's failing schools and ultimately assist in growing the economy.

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In the News

CT rejected in first round of Race to the Top

March 5, 2010
Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network
View source article

 By Diane Orson

Federal education officials announced finalists in the high-stakes Race to the Top education reform competition on Thursday. Connecticut did not make the list. WNPR’s Diane Orson reports.

Race to the Top, funded through the Recovery Act with the support of Congress, put $4.3 billion on the table. States submitted applications demonstrating their commitment to innovative school reform. 40 states applied for funding in the first round. Fifteen were named as finalists - Connecticut was not selected. Speaking to reporters, Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan said Connecticut is at a turning point.

"This is the moment where we have to pull together as a state – and genuinely pull together as a state, to engage in the hard questions and dialogue that I think will be necessary in the weeks ahead."

The state had hoped to receive up to $175 million in education funding. School leaders and lawmakers gathered in Hartford on Thursday to express a renewed commitment to work together to reform CT’s schools. Bridgeport mayor Bill Finch spoke personally about why Race to the Top is important.

"My son just started kindergarten this year in a non-performing school. The mayor of state’s largest city gets to send his child to a non-performing school. But I believe in the public schools. Maybe there’s a blessing in disguise here that we weren’t in the first round. Because we gotta get this right. My kid’s future is depending on it."

In a national conference call with reporters, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said states not selected in the first round should reapply in Phase Two of the competition. And he says Washington hopes to expand the contest to include a Phase Three.

"The president has proposed $1.35 billion in next year’s budget to continue Race to the Top, and we look forward to working with Congress to make that happen."

Alex Johnston of ConCANN says Washington has made its education priorities are clear. He urges Connecticut legislators to act quickly in three areas.

"First, we’ve got to put a system in place where we can actually measure how our teachers and principals are preparing our students. We also need to insure that we create an alternative certification pathway for school leaders. And ensure that charter schools have the ability to grow."

In a statement, Governor Rell said news about RTT was disappointing but not unexpected.
 

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