State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) expressed deep concerns about the latest announced federal education funding freeze from the Trump administration, which will strip billions of dollars from national education programs, more than $50 million from Connecticut public schools and $448,023 from public schools in Connecticut’s 33rd Senate District.
These cuts include $75,027 from Clinton Public Schools, $42,810 from Colchester Public Schools, $38,819 from Old Saybrook Public Schools, $37,589 from Region 17 Schools, $36,219 from Westbrook Public Schools, $33,383 from East Hampton Public Schools, $31,782 from Portland Public Schools, $26,942 from East Haddam Public Schools, $26,173 from Region 18 Schools, $21,702 from Region 4 Schools, $15,421 from Essex Public Schools, $15,234 from Deep River Public Schools and $13,539 from Chester 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 cut education funding by billions nationally, millions statewide and hundreds of thousands locally, especially for teacher training, recruitment and retention and direct student academic support, sets back our communities and our schools significantly,” said Sen. Needleman. “These programs provide direct support to everyday students and residents; to cut after-school programs and adult education services seems to harm our efforts to support students today and in the future. When we know these programs help improve educational outcomes, cutting their support seems foolhardy, if not cruel.”
State officials said the specific grant freezes 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.
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