This policy briefing details the current mismatch between student learning needs and per-student spending in Connecticut’s local and regional public school districts, and examines some of the factors that contribute to this mismatch.
A federal government shutdown impacts everyone in some form or another — whether its federal workers not receiving paychecks, families losing access to important programs, or students seeing critical resources delayed and services cut. This briefing breaks down these impacts and provides an overview of how the shutdown affects students and schools in Connecticut, and what it means for federal K-12 education funding.
Passed in July 2025, H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) contains a new federal tax credit scholarship program designed to support school choice initiatives and students with education-related expenses. This document addresses key questions about how the new program might work, who would be eligible, and what it could mean for Connecticut’s students, schools, communities, and residents.
President Trump's budget request proposes to decrease funding for the U.S. Department of Education by $12 billion, or 15%. These resources examine the president’s budget request for K-12 education, how it compares to House and Senate proposals, and the potential effects of these proposals on Connecticut students and schools.
Analysis: K-12 Education Funding in President Trump's FY 2026 Budget Request
K-12 Education Funding in President Trump's FY 2026 Initial Budget Request
Comparison of Senate and Trump FY 2026 Budget Proposals
Comparison of K-12 Education Funding in Federal Spending Proposals for FY 2026
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On June 30, 2025, President Donald Trump's administration announced it was withholding over $6.8 billion in federal K-12 education funding for the 2025-26 school year, including an estimated $53.6 million for Connecticut public school districts and community organizations.
One in six children in Connecticut is food insecure and uncertain about where their next meal will come from. This briefing offers a high-level overview of school meal programs by examining the current state of these programs in Connecticut, how proposed federal policy changes might impact the state, and what proposals are being considered by the state legislature to invest in these programs.