While Connecticut ranks among states with the highest levels of education spending, most of that does not derive from the state itself but from municipal budgets.
A bill currently being considered by the Connecticut General Assembly would revamp how the state determines its education funding distribution, which could potentially mean an additional $2.6 million for Middletown schools.
So often, when we discuss education funding, we stick to the dollar and cents. The total amount a school receives. The per-pupil spending. But it’s what those dollars do, the doors they open, and the experiences they provide that matter most.
The legislature is now considering a bill that would leverage the state’s strong fiscal health to fully fund the formula, known as education cost sharing, in an effort to accelerate aid for underfunded districts and streamline the process by which need is calculated.
Parents and city officials gave public testimony this week to support legislation that would fully fund school districts with state money when federal COVID relief funds expire.
The event this week featured a presentation by Erika Haynes, director of community engagement for the School and State Finance Project, an organization looking to “increase awareness about Connecticut’s education finance system and the need for an equitable, unified funding formula that treats all students fairly and strengthens schools and communities."