ConnCAN's Education News Roundup

ConnCAN in the News

Educators left in suspense
By Randy James, Republican-American, May 17, 2007

The bill, which would take effect before the 2008-09 school year, is a response to concerns that many suspended students treat their punishment as vacation and lose valuable classroom time. Public schools statewide issued 77,000 out-of-school suspensions last year, officials say.

The issue has drawn special scrutiny in Waterbury, where nearly half of the city's high school students have been suspended out of school this year. "There's an incentive for some students to purposefully get themselves suspended so they don't have to get to school," said Rep. David K. Labriola, R-Naugatuck, a supporter. "This bill would eliminate that problem."

ConnCAN, an education research and advocacy group, also backs the idea."Often the kids who end up in out-of-school suspension fall behind," Executive Director Alex Johnston said. "I think this is a practice we need to move away from."

More Charter School Proposals Sought
By Maria Garriga, New Haven Register, May 15, 2007

In response to several legislative bills calling for new charter schools, the Department of Education has put out a request for proposals that could lead to two more schools opening as early as fall. The state has 16 charter schools, each of which runs independently of local school boards. The state gives them flexibility in curriculum and structure.

“The state of Connecticut is funny in that it approves schools before it approves funding. Last year, the state approved four new charter schools but only had funding for two,” said Marc Porter Magee, spokesman for ConnCAN. Magee said ConnCAN estimates show that three students applied for every one of those 3,600 slots, suggesting an overall demand for about 10,000 slots in charter schools.

Opinions & Editorials

Magnets Not Closing Color Gap
By David Medina, Hartford Courant, May 16, 2007

Sheff v. O'Neill guaranteed Hartford children pleasant new learning environments; higher, rigorous expectations for success; and resources to achieve that goal. Students and their families should take full advantage of the opportunity. Connecticut's neglectful track record in this area suggests that they shouldn't count on it happening again without another big lawsuit.

Some speculate that whites will gravitate to Hartford magnets as the schools burnish longer track records of excellence. That's heartwarming. But getting a better education now is much more important than ending racial and economic isolation. If whites come, they come. If they don't, let it be their loss.

News Articles
Those Tax Hikes? Forget It, Says Rell
By Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, May 16, 2007

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who last week backed away from a plan to balance her budget by increasing the state income tax, declared Tuesday that the legislature can pass her budget with "no tax increases whatsoever."

The statement marked a major turnaround. Rell has officially dropped plans to increase the state income tax by 10 percent over two years and boost the cigarette tax to $2 per pack, up from $1.51 per pack.