We’ve all seen the budget battles that divide towns, threaten educators’ jobs, and often drain precious resources our students need to succeed. Here’s your chance to create lasting change in how school funding decisions are made at the state level and implemented at the local level, ensuring your district not only gets the education dollars it needs but also directs that money toward its intended purpose.
CEA President Kate Dias has been appointed to serve on the governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on K-12 Education Funding and Accountability, whose role is to research and propose solutions to public school funding challenges. As such, she is reaching out to every CEA member to gather input into how our state can improve the way it funds public schools and achieve better outcomes for students.
“Hearing directly from educators is essential if we’re going to get this right,” Dias says. “Educators are the ones who know our schools best and understand firsthand the challenges when funding is misdirected or falls short. I am making sure we have a seat at the table.”
Dias is asking all CEA members to take a brief survey (5-10 minutes) and share their experiences, perspectives, and honest thoughts about how to improve school funding and disbursement. The Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University is helping facilitate the commission’s work and is administering the survey. Responses will remain anonymous and shared only in the aggregate.
“While the survey is open through the summer, our commission will meet on July 30, and early survey feedback will help guide our discussion,” Dias explains.
