Education Committee willing to help tech schools

(March 20, 2008) Increasing access to education for all students was a key aim of the Education Committee this session, and the committee achieved some successes toward that goal. The committee raised proposals dealing with alternative public schools, technical schools, teachers and course requirements.

CBIA has long recognized that access and funding are key to ensuring a quality education in Connecticut. Some of the proposals the committee approved include:

SB-647, which would give charter schools a more streamlined process and increase the per-pupil grant to give more students access to excellent public schools.

SB-404, which would extend to three years the certification process for bilingual teachers.

Finally, it was of great importance that technical schools receive long- awaited and needed funding to increase awareness across the state and upgrade their facilities.

With this in mind, the committee introduced HB-5867, which would have created 17 developmental officers who would promote technical schools to middle school students. CBIA appreciated this proposal but felt the technical schools could be better served with more funding for a public awareness campaign. By creating an awareness campaign, the state could address the growing lack of workers for skilled trades.

Since the state is experiencing an increasing number of people either leaving the state or retiring, it’s necessary to find new ways to get more students to stay and work in Connecticut.

The committee has indicated its willingness to put funding into the budget for technical schools. CBIA looks forward to working with the chairs of the committee to increase awareness and funding for our technical schools through an increase in the education budget proposal.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Jesmin Basanti at 860-244-1929 or jesmin.basanti@cbia.com.