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Saturday, January 24, 2026

State of the Student Conference

An elementary school student does schoolwork at a table with other students.

Saturday, January 24, 2026
9 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT

Sponsored By





















Join us for the 2nd annual
State of the Student Conference!

This FREE, daylong event is focused on the needs and experiences of Connecticut’s most important resource: its students.

Join community members, educators, policymakers, advocates, and students from across the state as we gather to build knowledge, inspire solutions, and fuel action to address some of the most pertinent issues impacting children and youth in Connecticut. 

Throughout the Conference, attendees will have access to interactive workshops, panel discussions, moderated Q&As, and keynote sessions focused on the fight for equitable funding, access, and opportunities for all students.

Conference sessions will cover an array of topics, including:

-   Federal education funding and policy changes
-   Engaging students in and out of the classroom
-   Multilingual learner education and language access
-   Special education funding and services
-   Connecting the classroom to the community
-   Student nutrition and school meal programs
-   Housing access and the impact to education
-   Building the teaching force of tomorrow
-   State funding and local budgets
     AND MORE!

The full Conference schedule, including descriptions, is now available! Click the button below to check out the schedule and plan your Conference itinerary!

For questions about Conference sessions and the schedule for the day, please email info@schoolstatefinance.org.

JOIN CONFERENCE WAITLIST

A record number of people have registered for this year's conference and we are currently sold out. However, more seats may become available. Sign up for the Conference waitlist to be alerted as soon as seats become available.

Sponsor the Conference

In 2025, the inaugural State of the Student Conference attracted over 100 attendees and featured eight sessions and more than 30 speakers. Over 90% of attendees surveyed said they found the Conference informative, would attend again, and would recommend the Conference to someone else.

You can help ensure the State of the Student Conference continues to be a success by being one of our 2026 Conference sponsors

As a sponsor, your generous contribution ensures the Conference remains free and accessible for all attendees and is an event that drives conversations, fosters collaboration, and sparks action.

Sponsorship tiers range from $250 to $5,000 with each offering a variety of benefits and publicity opportunities.

To see how you can support the State of the Student Conference, please click the button below to download the Conference sponsorship packet.

For questions about Conference sponsorship opportunities, or to customize your sponsorship experience, email us at info@schoolstatefinance.org.

A list of sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 State of the Student Conference

Getting to the Conference

CONFERENCE LOCATION

The State of the Student Conference will be held at the Usdan Complex (specifically the Fayerweather building and Usdan University Center) on the campus of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.

Address: 45 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459

When arriving at the Usdan Complex, please go to the Fayerweather building for registration and breakfast.

DIRECTIONS & ACCESSIBILITY

Directions to the Wesleyan University campus, as well as accessibility information for campus buildings and parking, are available at https://www.wesleyan.edu/visit/index.html.

PARKING

Parking for the Conference is available near the Usdan Complex in the E Lots on Wylls Avenue. Please consult Wesleyan's Campus Map for more parking information.

Take a Look Back at the
2025 State of the Student Conference

Kevin Booker Jr. gives the Keynote Address at the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Evelyn Robles-Rivas speaks with Matt Wilcox at the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Attendees listen during the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Erika Haynes hugs an attendee during the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Attendees listen to the Keynote Session during the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Two student panelists at the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Attendees during the Opening Session of the 2025 State of the Student Conference
A panel on Connecticut's disconnected and at-risk youth at the 2025 State of the Student Conference
The Opening Session of the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Two attendees chat during the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Attendees enjoy breakfast before the 2025 State of the Student Conference begins
Attendees gather at the Opening Session of the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Nearly 100 people attend the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Kevin Booker Jr. chats with a conference attendee at the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Three attendees enjoy the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Typhanie Jackson serves as a panelist during the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Evelyn Robles-Rivas speaks with Erika Haynes at the 2025 State of the Student Conference
Attendees gather prior to the 2025 State of the Student Conference

Conference Schedule

We're excited to offer 15 sessions at the 2026 State of the Student Conference with each one covering a different topic important to Connecticut students and families. In addition to the Opening, Lunch, and Keynote Sessions, there will be three blocks where four sessions will run concurrently during each block.

Conference Session Tracks

Along with nearly doubling the number of sessions offered this year, we've also created four thematic tracks (listed below) to help guide your Conference journey. You can use the tracks to help identify sessions that match your interests (just look for the same color of the track on the Conference schedule), but you don't need to stay with one track for the entire Conference.

  • Driving Change with Data
    Data can help us better understand challenges, identify solutions, and advocate for change. These sessions focus on equipping attendees with data in an approachable and accessible way so they can make a positive difference in the lives of Connecticut’s students. 
  • Ensuring Equity & Access
    For generations, Connecticut families have fought for the right of their students to receive an equitable educational experience. Unfortunately, many of those fights continue today. These sessions dive into the progress Connecticut has made and the work that still remains when it comes to achieving equitable funding, access, and services.
  • Connecting Classroom & Community
    A student’s education isn’t confined to what happens within the four walls of a classroom. It extends to their home, their community, and the broader world. These sessions explore the connectedness between a student’s education and their community, and how learning is impacted by more than just classwork.
  • Elevating Student Voices
    Students should be at the heart of every education discussion, yet their perspectives are rarely sought after or considered. These sessions aim to change that by putting youth voice at the center of conversations and empowering students to share their experiences, opinions, and ideas. Note: these sessions are specifically geared toward students.

Full Conference Schedule

9:00 - 9:30 AM

Light Breakfast & Networking

Come join us prior to the Conference's opening session for networking, coffee, and baked goods.

9:30 - 9:40 AM

Welcome & Conference Kickoff

9:40 - 10:15 AM

Opening Session

Students at the Center: Engaging Youth In & Out of the Classroom
As we take the day to focus on the experiences of Connecticut’s students and the challenges facing them, their families, and their schools, we start by hearing directly from students themselves. Join us for a conversation with students about their educational experiences, the improvements they’d like to see, and how schools and communities can better engage them.

10:30 - 11:20 AM

Session 1A

Federal Education Funding: Sifting Through the Chaos & Uncertainty
The past year has brought unprecedented changes to longstanding education policies along with federal education funding uncertainty and threats to the future of the U.S. Department of Education. Join staff from the School and State Finance Project for a crash course on federal education funding and what potential changes could mean for students, families, and schools.

Session 1B

Learning Across Languages: Meeting the Needs of Multilingual Learners
As Connecticut’s multilingual learner population continues to grow, so too do the needs of these students, their families, and the schools that serve them. In 2025, the School and State Finance Project’s Community Engagement team embarked on a project to better understand how districts are serving multilingual learners, the challenges they’re facing, and the opportunities for improvement. Join the Community Engagement team for a look into what they learned and a conversation with Dr. Kara Casimiro, superintendent of Danbury Public Schools, on improving the experience and outcomes of multilingual learners.

Session 1C

Supporting Student Mental Health Through Integrated Practices
While school districts struggle with finite resources, the student mental health crisis continues to grow. Supporting students' mental health is multidimensional. This conversation offers insights on how to support students through the day-to-day practices in classrooms, schools, and at home.

Session 1D

A Say in Decisions: Student Membership on Boards of Education
Civic engagement is at the heart of creating tangible change, and boards of education are a perfect example of civic engagement in action. In recent years, many boards of education have started to include seats at the table for students to voice their concerns, share their suggestions, and ensure there is student input when making important decisions that will impact them. Join us for a conversation about student voice and district decision-making, and learn how to affect change.

11:30 AM - 12:20 PM

Session 2A

An Uncivil Era: How Federal Actions are Affecting Student Rights & Communities
Over the past year, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has been severely cut. At the same time, immigration raids, rollbacks of DEI initiatives, and threats to federal education programs and funding continue to impact schools and communities. Join us for a discussion on protecting the civil and educational rights of students and families during this time of uncertainty.

Session 2B

Locked Out: How Housing Access Impacts a Student’s Education
The education a student receives, the resources they have access to, and the opportunities available to them are influenced by more than just what happens in the classroom. Where a student lives has an outsized impact on their education and learning experience. Join us for a look at the links between housing access and education and how limited housing options contribute to disparities in the educational experiences of students.

Session 2C

Fully Funded But Still in Need: The Future of State Funding & the ECS Grant
The 2025-26 school year marks the first time in state history the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant will be fully funded. While this landmark achievement delivers much-needed resources to historically underfunded school districts and their students, it is not a panacea for the state’s school funding challenges. Join us for this interactive session where together we’ll explore changes to the ECS formula and their impacts.

Session 2D

Make Your Voice Heard: A State of the Student Youth Town Hall
We cannot begin to address the needs of students if we do not listen to students. This session is devoted entirely to the experiences, concerns, and dreams of students and what they want out of their educational journey. All student attendees are invited to join us for an informal Youth Town Hall to share their thoughts and experiences, hear from other students across the state, and meet new people.

12:30 - 1:20 PM

Lunch Session

No Child Left Hungry: How One Community Kept Lunch Free for All
For many students, school meals are the only daily source of food they can rely on. One in six students in Connecticut is food insecure and uncertain about where their next meal will come from. With rising food costs, federal policy changes, and potential funding cuts poised to exacerbate childhood hunger, school districts across the state are likely to see more students coming to school hungry — impacting their ability to focus, concentrate, and learn.

As we gather for lunch, we’ll learn how one district kept its free-lunch-for-all program in place amid budgetary constraints, and is working as a community to address food insecurity. We’ll hear from key stakeholders about the budgetary tensions districts struggle with, how the city engaged to support student and family needs, the lessons they’ve learned, and what steps Connecticut can take to ensure all students have reliable sources of food and nutrition.

1:30 - 2:20 PM

Session 3A

Changes & Challenges: The State of Special Education in Connecticut
The past year has been filled with changes impacting students with disabilities, their families, and educators, but more work remains to address students’ needs. Join us for an overview of the current state of special education and a conversation with key stakeholders on how Connecticut can move forward to better support and educate students with disabilities.

Session 3B

Course Correct: The Future of Teaching
Every student deserves to be taught by a qualified, effective, and passionate educator. But with nearly 3,000 vacant educator positions across the state, this is sadly not always the case. How can Connecticut fill vacant positions, modernize its educator pipeline, and address some of the biggest challenges keeping individuals out of the classroom? Join educators and district leaders for a discussion on building Connecticut’s next generation of teachers and the future of the profession.

Session 3C

Breaking Down Barriers: Engaging with Your Board of Education and Budget
Local education budgets can be intimidating. The complexities of funding and technical terminology collide with a process that often limits public input. In this session we hear from those who have served on their local boards of education about the ways to engage your board of education and other municipal leaders, both with budgets and beyond.

Session 3D

Student Voice Holds Power: Examining Youth Advocacy Across the State
Historically, young people have been a driving force behind many significant civil rights changes. That passion and desire for change remains alive and well today. Whether it’s fighting for more equitable funding for their schools, advocating for free bus fares to and from school, or pushing for more inclusive curriculum in their classrooms, students across our state have been instrumental to many policy changes over the years. Join us for an interactive opportunity to explore how to navigate a cause you’re passionate about.

2:30 - 3:20 PM

Keynote Session

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
You’ve spent the day learning about the needs and experiences of Connecticut’s students and now you’re ready to take action! Join motivational speaker and community leader Kevin Booker Jr. for a session on how you can take your knowledge and get involved at the state and local levels to improve the lives and education of students.

3:20 - 3:30 PM

Closing Remarks

3:30 - 4:00 PM

Networking