State Senator Thomas P. Gaffey
March 18, 2008
Gaffey Wins Committee Approval For Two Key Education Funding Measures
Says Each Has Fiscal Implications For Meriden Area
State Senator Thomas P. Gaffey (D-Meriden), the Senate Chairman of the legislature's Education Committee, today reported his successful effort to win approval by that committee for two critically important funding measures. Each bill now advances to the Appropriations Committee for its consideration, Senator Gaffey said.
The first initiative restores $19.7 million for the much-heralded early reading success program for the state's priority school districts, which not only improves reading skills for pre-school children, but assists all-day kindergarten students learn to read and helps reduce class size in doing do. Senator Gaffey said Meriden's share of this grant program would be $843,756. The second piece of legislation returns full Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funding to school districts with students enrolled in regional magnet schools.
"Connecticut's Early Reading Success Program is a priority of mine because it not only accelerates the learning process and provides a head start for our youngest students in priority districts at a critical time in their education, but serves as the foundation for the integrated public education system I envision from pre-school right through college," Senator Gaffey said. "For reasons I reject, funding for this program in the second year of our budget was eliminated; my bill remedies that unjustified oversight."
The second bill reinstates promised ECS funding to districts for their students who study at an out-of-district magnet school.
"The original magnet school plan was to provide urban districts with new facilities offering creative learning alternatives through themed curricula to attract suburban students, yet hold those host districts--like Meriden--financially harmless with the continuation of full ECS funding," Senator Gaffey explained. "In budget negotiations last June, the Rell administration trimmed those ECS funds--first to 75% of the established per-pupil rate this year and then 50% for the coming fiscal year--so my initiative is required to restore the original plan."
Senator Gaffey said he's hopeful the momentum provided by Education Committee members and their votes on these two initiatives will carry the bills through the appropriations process. The General Assembly's 2008 Regular Session ends May 7th.
|
Senator Gaffey’s |
Listing of Senator Gaffey’s recent press releases and a Press Kit with official head shots and bio. |
Press Aide Laurence Grotheer |
