The 2021 Connecticut legislative session closed at midnight last night, and though the General Assembly plans to be back for a special session to take up additional issues next week, Connecticut educators can already be proud of the successes they’ve achieved for their students and communities.
Working together, CEA leaders, members, and staff have achieved
- Additional supports for social emotional learning and school climate to meet the needs of our students
- $140 million over two years in new funding for schools (ECS) and an additional $10 million for Priority School Districts
- A tax break for low- and moderate-income families with children
- New supports for students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities, including dedicated staff at the State Department of Education
- An additional $4 million to promote equity and address disparities that affect our neediest children and their families
- Protections for teachers’ rights, defeating anti-union attacks, and implementing deterrents to employers for anti-union practices
- Ensuring the teacher pension income tax exemption increases to 50% after attempts to freeze it at 25%
- Amending the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for retired teachers to better align with inflation
Our work isn’t over. We need to continue to urge superintendents to use the influx of federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan to replace/upgrade school air conditioning and heating systems for the health and safety of our school communities. We also need to work with PDEC committees to support the social and emotional health of both students and educators.
Stay tuned to cea.org for more information about how you can help get your school to participate in these efforts.
Read more about the state budget that the General Assembly has approved.
