A bill authorizing the state of Connecticut to conduct a study on viability of education savings accounts drew a bevy of experts and advocates to a packed public hearing before the Education Committee on Thursday.
The Connecticut State Supreme Court ruled last week that Connecticut’s school funding formula did not violate the state’s constitutional mandate that every child be provided a “minimally adequate” education. But “minimally adequate” might not be enough for some parents and students.
In a series of impassioned speeches, community and organization leaders made the case for school choice and better options for parents living in Connecticut’s cities. Gwen Samuel, head of Connecticut Parents Union, hosted Creating Opportunity for Every Child as part of Black History Month. Samuel said school choice means “that, as a mother, I should have the right to do what is best for my children and all children. That is what choice is.”
The unfortunate consequence of Connecticut’s policy choices is that children who are born and raised in low-income households face daunting challenges and, research shows, have trouble overcoming them. While Connecticut’s overall student performance appears strong (87% graduation rate), the achievement gap betrays the truth; upper class families boost overall numbers and urban youth are left stranded in poor educational environments.
The Yankee Institute honored the legacy of Dr. Milton Friedman on Wednesday, July 31 with a luncheon and policy discussion led by Jason Bedrick of the Cato Institute. The New Britain Herald’s Scott Whipple called the event the best free lunch in central Connecticut. Mr. Bedrick, the Director of the ...
There are several independent films that depict the benefits of school choice. Be sure to check out the trailers for the following movies: Waiting for Superman shadows several students across the country hoping to attend their local charter school via lottery selection. Flunked, which features charter schools in California, New ...