SENATOR MARX DECRIES LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION CUTS STRIPPING $1.3 MILLION FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) decried the latest announced federal education funding cuts from the Trump administration, which will strip billions of dollars from national education programs, more than $50 million from Connecticut public schools and $1,298,131 from public schools in Connecticut’s 20th Senate District.

These cuts include $952,262 from New London Public Schools, $93,963 from Waterford Public Schools, $91,726 from Montville Public Schools, $61,286 from East Lyme Public Schools, $38,819 from Old Saybrook Public Schools, $26,173 from Region 18 schools in Lyme and Old Lyme and $16,313 from Bozrah Public Schools.

Nationally, more than $6 billion in grants were frozen from programs supporting teacher development and recruitment, student support and academic enrichment, community learning centers, English learning support and adult education and literacy, including more than $53 million in federal funding for Connecticut schools. Leaders around the state report the cuts pose serious threats to a number of school programs.

“To put it simply, these funding cuts make little sense. At a time when teachers and students rely on additional services, programs and aid to bolster Connecticut education, gutting programs directly supporting teacher development and academic enrichment does nothing but harm our schools and our students,” said Sen. Marx. “These cuts impact communities across our region and our state. They represent significant setbacks that weaken our overall educational systems. I’m concerned they won’t be the last.”

State resources said the specific grant cuts impacting Connecticut include grants for improvement of teacher instruction, including teacher development, retention and recruitment; improvement of services for multilingual learners; support for well-rounded education opportunities, student health and safety and technological education; before- and after-school programs improving student education and well-being; and adult education and literacy services.