    
News Release - February 7, 2007 Contact: Marc Porter Magee “Today Governor Rell seized the opportunity to make 2007 the ‘Year of Education’ by proposing significant investments in the proven reforms needed to guarantee every child in our state has access to a great public school,” declared Alex Johnston, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN). “Building upon this foundation, the Connecticut legislature has the opportunity to help move Connecticut from 50th to 1st by passing a comprehensive plan to ensure great schools for all.” Governor Rell’s education proposals come on the heels of a growing groundswell of support for making Connecticut’s achievement gap the top public policy issue in the state, including the Early Childhood Research and Policy Council's recommendations, proposals from the Education Cost Sharing Commission, and ConnCAN’s “Great Schools for All” plan. On January 25, ConnCAN’s “Great Schools for All” plan was released with the support of a unique partnership of business and community organizations, including Connecticut ACORN, Connecticut Appleseed, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Connecticut Parent Power, the Early Childhood Alliance, and the Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice. The proposal—outlined in a 44-page report available at www.conncan.org and praised by both Rep. James Amann, Speaker of the House, and Rep. Andy Fleischmann, Chair of the Education Committee—received a critical boost today from Governor Rell in five key areas: 1. Great Schools for All: Increase funding for new preschool slots to ensure access to high quality programs for all three- and four-year-olds in low-income families by 2012. Develop public rating system for preschools to help parents make informed choices. Gov. Rell’s Proposal: Increase preschool slots for low-income families by 59%, from 7,000 to 11,100, by spending an additional $11.1 million in FY 2008 and $30.5 million in FY 2009. Provide $1 million in both FY 2008 and FY 2009 for the Preschool Quality Rating System. 2. Great Schools for All: End the unequal funding of public charter schools by raising per pupil spending to the statewide average and increase the number of students served from 3,600 to 10,000 by 2013. Gov. Rell’s Proposal: Expand the number of students served by charter schools and increase per pupil funding by 33% over four years, from $8,000 to $10,595, by spending an additional $6.1 in FY 2008 and $11.6 in FY 2009. 3. Great Schools for All: Expand access to magnet schools with a focus on both promoting racial desegregation and closing the achievement gap. Gov. Rell’s Proposal: Increase the state per pupil funding for magnet schools and provide funds for additional academic help to students to raise student achievement by spending an additional $4.9 million in both FY 2008 and FY 2009. Support the expansion of magnet schools by spending an additional $18.8 million in FY 2008 and $35.8 million in FY 2009. 4. Great Schools for All: Promote proven approaches to raising student achievement system-wide across Connecticut’s high-needs districts. Gov. Rell’s Proposal: Hold districts accountable for implementing programs to raise the performance of schools failing to meet Adequate Yearly Progress. Require school districts to offer voluntary summer classes for elementary students who fall behind in reading or mathematics, with an additional $1.5 million in both FY 2008 and FY 2009. 5. Great Schools for All: Increase accountability for results by expanding the 10th grade CAPT achievement test into a “college-readiness assessment” given in every year of high school to ensure every student is ready for graduation. Gov. Rell’s Proposal: Require that all students pass the CAPT, or an alternative measure approved by the state Department of Education, to graduate from high school.
For an interview with Alex Johnston or more information on Gov. Rell’s education proposals and the “Great Schools for All” plan please call Marc Porter Magee at 203-772-4017 x14 or email Marc at marc.magee@conncan.org. The Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) is a statewide outreach, education, and research organization working to close Connecticut’s achievement gap. To learn more visit: www.conncan.org.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||