Move Forward or Backward on Education Reform?

The state’s business community was deeply involved in the campaign last year to reform education in Connecticut. Now, with a vested interest in securing a quality education for all of our students, businesses are watching closely to see if the state makes good on those reforms.

This week state policymakers began the budget decision-making process that determines whether Connecticut will continue the momentum that began with last year’s landmark education reforms.

Given the importance of education to our young people’s futures and Connecticut’s economic and civic viability, the answer should be to press ahead with the reforms and our commitment to students in the state.

For the next several months, the state’s fiscal challenges will force tough conversations and choices about priorities for state spending.  

In order to make sure our young people are fully prepared to meet the workforce demands of a global 21^st century economy, it’s imperative that we close Connecticut’s academic achievement gap and focus educational resources on core subjects.

The budget discussion offers an important opportunity to confront those challenges and consider how we could spend education dollars more strategically and effectively.

Connecticut has the potential to dramatically transform its public school system—and transform lives–but only with ongoing state leadership and a commitment to achieve this goal.

A shared commitment, and resources, to support school reforms will be essential in determining how much change we bring–true transformation or simply more of the status quo. 

CBIA encourages lawmakers to press forward on the reforms, and we strongly oppose any rollback.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Bonnie Stewart at 860.244.1925 or bonnie.stewart@cbia.com.