The State Department of Education is reporting “greater numbers of parents desiring to remove their child(ren) from participation in the statewide testing program.” In response, the department’s Academic Office has issued these suggested protocols and sample letter for districts’ use as part of its December Newsletter.
Bridgeport educators, parents, and community members showed their optimism about the possibility for change in their district by rallying last night before the first meeting of Bridgeport’s new Board of Education.
The state’s largest teacher organization urges people to be careful not to miss the big picture when analyzing Connecticut’s new School and District Performance Reports. CEA President Sheila Cohen said, “The takeaway from the new documentation provides validation that we know what works in public education and optimism about continued student growth.”
DetailsYesterday, in another major win for Connecticut school children, a Connecticut trial court rejected the State of Connecticut’s attempt to dismiss a major school funding case. The case, Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding (CCJEF) v. Rell, was brought nine years ago to claim that the state’s system of funding education is inadequate, unequal,…
DetailsWe join with the worldwide community in mourning the passing of human rights champion Nelson Mandela. He led South Africa through a difficult transition to democracy and proved true his own famous words, “Never doubt that one person can make a difference in the world.”
Too often changes in education come from the top down, teachers have little say in the process, and results are mixed. But when unions and district leaders partner together in innovative ways they can effectively and sustainably raise student achievement.
The State Education Mandate Relief task force met for the first time today and immediately approved expanding the group’s charge to find ways to provide mandate relief to all school districts across the state, not just those in high-performing districts. One of the topics addressed was how to reduce the cost of the new teacher…
DetailsThe Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released the latest results from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a test of literacy, mathematics, and science given every three years to 15-year-olds in more than sixty countries worldwide. Shanghai, one of three education systems in China that participated in PISA, remained the top performer, while the…
DetailsIs Connecticut’s new teacher evaluation system being implemented effectively? Should there be regional efforts to boost the system’s chances of success? And are there improvements that need to be made in the next session of the Connecticut General Assembly? These are some of the questions being quietly studied by a small legislative subcommittee with a…
DetailsGovernor Dannel P. Malloy told a national audience today that teacher concerns about the rapid pace of change in Connecticut public education are real, adding that “we’re going to get through it.” The governor called teachers “good, hard-working people.” Malloy said, “I probably used the wrong language more than once. I know I have. It’s…
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