Students Testify for Education Funding
Public school students and their teachers from eleven municipalities traveled to Hartford on Wednesday to testify before the Education Committee of the State Legislature about the dire need to increase the school funding formula.
Three busloads carrying 117 students from schools across New Haven were accompanied by Mayor Justin Elicker.
“It's a packed house of union members, educators, students, coalition partners, elected officials and faith leaders at the CT State Legislative Zoffice Building to protect our kids and fix the formula,” reported NHFT President Leslie Blatteau. “On this March 4, in partnership with the American federation of Teachers and AFT Connecticut locals across the state and country, we demand Fully and Fairly Funded Schools NOW.”
“The state per pupil ECS funding foundation amount has not increased since 2013. Want to know what has increased over the last 13 years? EVERYTHING ELSE,” said art teacher Melody Gallagher. “It is time for the state of CT to fix the ECS formula. As costs for services, supplies and everything else has gone up, this flat funding has translated into underfunding.”
In solidarity with the delegation testifying at the state capitol, classroom teachers in New Haven are wearing FIX THE FORMULA stickers.
Teachers and students were joined by organizations in the Connecticut for All coalition who testified in support of SB 7 for increased public school funding. to ensure the needs of students in the state are met. Speakers declared, “Now is the time to Fix the Formula - specifically the Foundation Aid amount of $11,525, which has remained the same since 2013.”
Had the formula’s foundation kept pace with inflation, it would be approximately $16,000 per student today. Legislators were urged to increase the foundation aid amount to $16,525 in Fiscal Year 2027 and then index it to inflation moving forward.
Testimonies called for the ultra wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share to make it possible to deliver on the promise of public education for all of Connecticut's children.
