Andrea Stillman

Stillman Wins Senate Vote for Comprehensive Education Reform Bill

State Senator Andrea L. Stillman (D-Waterford), Senate chair of the legislature’s Education Committee, today earned Senate approval for a comprehensive package of public education reforms deemed a priority for the session. Senator Stillman described the bill as opportunity realized: an opportunity to begin the lengthy process of reform and the opportunity for children and families to capitalize on all the opportunities inherent in a good education.

Senator Stillman said the bill represents compromise among many of the governor’s original proposals, priorities of legislative leaders, and suggestions from stakeholders: teachers, administrators, parents, reform advocates, and policy experts.

“As an integral part of a sustained economic development strategy, public education reform is properly placed in the spotlight this year,” Senator Stillman said. “These meaningful changes address everything from school readiness for young children, to the turnaround of failing schools, to teacher certification and evaluation standards, all with the goal of preparing students for the 21st century’s global marketplace.”

Senator Stillman highlighted several landmark reforms and initiatives among the lengthy and painstakingly negotiated legislation:

• 1,000 new school readiness slots, recognizing the undeniable value of early childhood education.
• At least 20 new or expanded school-based health clinics, understanding that a healthy mind depends upon a healthy body.
• At least 10 new Family Resource Centers, to involve more families in their children’s education.
• Two new literacy initiatives, because reading proficiency is the foundation of learning in every discipline and subject area.
• Direct intervention of the state Department of Education at underperforming schools, utilizing School Governance Councils comprised of administrators, teachers, parents, and other local talent.
• Incentives for and evaluations of ever-improving, professional teachers and administrators, acknowledging and respecting that no one is better suited to improve student achievement than the teachers who lead Connecticut’s classrooms and the principals and superintendents who lead Connecticut’s schools and school districts.
• Modest funding increases for vocational/technical and vocational/agricultural schools, charter and magnet schools, and a kindergarten through 8th grade science initiative, with a move to a uniform accounting system to better track school funding and accurately gauge per pupil costs from district to district.

“In recent years we have revised public school curriculum requirements statewide and adjusted standardized testing procedures and intervals as just two examples of well-intentioned, but half-hearted attempts to improve student outcomes,” Senator Stillman said. “These top-to-bottom public school reforms provide the wholesale changes required to address a glaring achievement gap caused primarily by pockets of poverty, and language and cultural barriers.”

“Perhaps nothing illustrates the potential for these reforms better than the literacy initiatives, where improved proficiency could yield reduced special education enrollment and resulting costs for what might have been merely a student’s reading deficiency all along,” Senator Stillman said. “Simply put, education is about the evolution of our children as they grow and learn and become productive adults, so our public education system must constantly evolve as well, along with the professionals who work in the field and the policies that govern those efforts.”

Senator Stillman said Emergency Certified SB458 now advances to the House of Representatives for its consideration and action.