Hartford Courant: Education funding battle pits Lamont against CT legislators over millions for magnets, charters, child care

State legislators and educators say they will not give up in one of the biggest battles at the state Capitol this year, pitting Gov. Ned Lamont against school advocates over funding for kindergarten through grade 12.

Legislators maintain they had a solid agreement with Lamont’s administration last year as part of the two-year budget for an additional $150 million for K-12 public education, but that total has not been placed into the latest budget recommendations for the fiscal year that starts on July 1.

Instead, lawmakers say Lamont’s administration is breaking that promise by reducing the original $150 million by taking away increases for charter, magnet, and vocational-agricultural schools. At the same time, Lamont is calling for $43 million in increases for early childhood amid a strong need for day care.