SENATE DEMOCRATS’ STRONG COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION INVESTMENT MOVES FORWARD

Today, the Education Committee advanced key legislation from Connecticut Senate Democrats seeking to make a strong and transformative increase in the state’s public education systems.

Senate Bill 7, “An Act Concerning Educational Equity,” passed out of the Education Committee March 16.

“We know our state needs to better keep pace with the costs of education, and our schools and children lose out on opportunities when that isn’t happening,” said State Senator Doug McCrory, Senate Chair of the Education Committee. “It leads to fewer programs, kids struggling, teachers spending their own funds to help out in the classroom. Raising the foundation amount in the grant will change that. It will deliver on our promises and make sure schools, students and communities across Connecticut get the care, attention and funds they deserve.”

“This situation doesn’t call for a short-term fix. Senate Democrats are focused on a full overhaul of our education funding systems that allow every school to succeed – with secondary impacts on local taxes, local educational resources and local community support,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “This legislation marks Connecticut’s determination to make sure every student has the best opportunities to succeed.”

The bill proposes raising the Education Cost Sharing formula’s foundation grant from its current level of $11,525 per pupil. In the next four fiscal years it would continue to increase, growing to $12,500 in fiscal year 2027, $13,500 in fiscal year 2028, $14,500 in fiscal year 2029 and $15,500 in fiscal year 2030.

Following 2030, the foundation grant would be indexed to economic indicators to ensure funding meets financial pressures in future years.

Under this framework, the proposal would increase state education funding by $58 million in fiscal year 2027, $233 million in fiscal year 2028, $422 million in fiscal year 2029 and $618 million in fiscal year 2030.

Senate Bill 7 received nearly 700 pieces of testimony in support during the public hearing process, including from dozens of school superintendents, principals and teachers.

Hartford Public Schools teacher Ron Acosta noted in public testimony that the current foundation of $11,525 per student has remained unchanged for 13 years and is highly outdated, leaving schools unable to meet students’ needs. “The classrooms are overcrowded and students are underserviced, if serviced at all,” Acosta said.

Paul Brenton, Superintendent of Plainfield Public Schools, said the planned increase in SB7 is a necessary and welcome step toward restoring balance and strengthening the state’s partnership with local school districts. This is especially important in some districts that are economically strained, Brenton added, as Plainfield’s student poverty rate recently climbed significantly and is facing stagnant local growth, meaning such increases are specifically important in communities that otherwise could risk falling behind.

Maureen Brummet, Superintendent of Newington Public Schools, noted the stagnancy of the ECS foundation fails to “reflect the real-world expenses of providing a quality education,” forcing towns to shoulder additional costs in providing students with education – in comparison, the predictability and adjustments offered by SB7 is the “only path” to fostering stability, predictability and long-term fiscal planning capacity.

With the bill’s passage today, it next heads to the Senate floor for further deliberation.