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In the News
May 18, 2012
Fairfield County Business Journal

With new federal data showing continued, middle-of-the-pack performance by Connecticut schools, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy found the middle ground among competing interests for a landmark education law.

For once, teachers were not front and center in the debate.

May 8, 2012
Wall Street Journal

HARTFORD—In a sweeping education deal with lawmakers and teacher unions here, Gov. Dannel Malloy gave ground on some of his farthest-reaching proposals but contended the compromise was still a historic overhaul of public-school policy in a state that has proved resistant to change.

May 8, 2012
Hartford Courant

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Monday night that his administration and lawmakers had reached an agreement on "meaningful education reform" — an agreement that he said adds nearly $100 million in new education spending and will help the state regain its competitive edge.

May 8, 2012
CT News Junkie

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Democratic legislative leaders celebrated what they called an “historic” agreement on a sweeping education reform proposal that believe will help Connecticut erase its largest-in-the-nation achievement gap.

At a 10 p.m. press conference, Malloy told a packed room of reformers and leaders of at least one of the state’s teacher unions that the bill the Senate is expected to take up later this evening is just a beginning.

May 7, 2012
The Hanging Shad

Say this for Gov. Dannel Malloy, love his policies or hate them, he has largely gotten what he wants in his first year and a half in office. He pushed through the largest tax increase in state history after inheriting a $3 billion-plus disaster of a state budget; he was able to wring desperately needed concessions out of the state employee unions (after first failing); he instituted the “First Five” job-creation program; and won hard-fought approval for the Jackson Labs economic development project..

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ConnCAN statement on appointment of Paul Vallas as acting superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- December 21, 2011
Contact: 
Jessica Bloom, ConnCAN
Tel: 
203-772-4017 x19
Email: 
jessica.bloom@conncan.org
New Haven, Conn

ConnCAN applauds the Bridgeport Board of Education on its appointment of Paul Vallas as the acting superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools. Bridgeport is a district that has floundered especially in recent years and will benefit tremendously from the kind of leadership Mr. Vallas can provide:

  • Three-quarters of Bridgeport’s fourth graders cannot read at grade level;
  • Only 13% of Bridgeport’s high schoolers perform at grade level;
  • and Barely more than half (55%) of the district’s incoming 9th graders ever graduate from high school.

Paul Vallas’ exceptional track record of tackling incredibly difficult school situations is unmatched,” ConnCAN CEO Patrick Riccards said. “He has an unwavering belief that every child can achieve, and I am sure he will bring that unrelenting commitment to all students and track record of success to Bridgeport.

Vallas is known around the country as an entrepreneurial reformer with a proven track record for improving student outcomes in some of the nation’s most distressed communities. He was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools for six years before being tapped to serve as CEO of the Philadelphia School District. In 2007 Vallas was appointed to run the Recovery School District in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. His work there is particularly remarkable: the hurricane left the state in shambles, but under his leadership, student achievement skyrocketed and achievement gaps have begun to close.

“As we have already seen in places like New Haven and Hartford, a strong leader with an ambitious vision for change can transform the lives of our students,” Riccards said. “It is encouraging to learn that the students of Bridgeport will be served by a bold and innovative leader with that kind of vision and dedication to results. If we are serious about providing all students access to great public schools, we need leaders like Paul Vallas heading our school districts.”

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