State boosts education funding and accountability

(July 17, 2007) Connecticut’s economic future depends on the availability of a highly skilled workforce and an education system that can provide it. Significant financial and accountability steps taken in the state’s new two-year budget should help ensure both.

The budget includes the following increases in education investments

• A $261 million increase in the education cost sharing program over the next two years — $181 million in the first year and $80 million in the second
• A $24 million increase in funding for early childhood programs over the next two years — $10 million in the first year and $14 million in the second
• A significant increase in the per-pupil funding for magnet, charter and CommPACT schools — $650 more per pupil for each of the next two years, bringing per-pupil spending from $8,000 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, to $9,300 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009

CBIA and others consistently said that simply spending money on education will not ensure the improved educational results that Connecticut seeks and needs.

CBIA is a strong proponent of raising academic standards, closing the state’s vast achievement gap and ensuring that all students entering kindergarten are ready to learn.

Fortunately the recently passed budget includes strong education accountability measures:

• Authorization for the state to gauge the effectiveness of local school-readiness programs and requiring ineffective programs to be replaced with programs that have proven effective.
• Authorization for the State Department of Education (SDE) to help turn around underperforming schools. The SDE will be allowed to reorganize schools not making adequate yearly progress into themed academies with team leaders and teachers working collaboratively. The state will also be able to reconstitute schools, change principals and determine where dollars need to be spent.
• Authorization for the SDE to order all-day kindergarten where large percentages of students do not reach proficiency levels. Also, the state will be able to require summer school for underperforming students, with the town being responsible for the costs.
• The SDE, the Office of Policy and Management and the legislature will form a commission to study high school graduation requirements, including the total number of credits, the number of credits in each discipline and the use of a high school exit exam.

The state’s historic increase in education funding is made stronger by being tied to stringent accountability measures. Connecticut’s education system and the skilled workforce it produces should be improved through this year’s initiatives.

Contact CBIA’s Kevin Hennessy at 860-244-1979 or hennessk@cbia.com for more information.