As Gov. Ned Lamont rolls out his budget proposals for the coming biennium, education funding seems poised to become a battleground. Lamont wants to freeze the state鈥檚 contribution to public schools, the pot of money called Education Cost Sharing, or ECS. Instead, he would boost districts by using federal coronavirus funds. And that鈥檚 raising alarm among educators and advocates. As districts continue to grapple with the devastating effects of the pandemic on both school costs and student learning, Fran Rabinowitz worries about Lamont鈥檚 plan. She represents 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 public school superintendents.
鈥淚鈥檓 concerned about the domino effect of holding it off for two years,鈥� Rabinowitz told 黑料吃瓜网 Radio. Essentially, she says, filling that hole with federal funds robs Peter to pay Paul. The coronavirus money could have been used for child reading programs or to support students with disabilities during the summer.
鈥淭hat federal funding was meant to supplement, not supplant,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was meant for us to move forward and put in the type of acceleration that our children are going to need.鈥�
The Lamont administration doesn鈥檛 see it that way. Melissa McCaw, the governor鈥檚 budget chief, says that because the state hasn鈥檛 recovered more than half a billion dollars in revenue lost to the pandemic, pulling in federal relief money represented the best path forward.
鈥淲e have to use the resources that we have, which is significant funding coming from the feds, as the governor recommends, to meet the commitment that we made to the districts in the ECS formula,鈥� she said, adding that more state money may be forthcoming in the next biennium budget.
As far as helping kids who鈥檝e been learning remotely to reduce the spread of COVID-19, McCaw says the state will require districts to identify which students have taken a step back in their education -- and then develop a program to get them caught up.
That鈥檚 where Republican House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora thinks the state misses the boat.
鈥淲hat I was hoping to see in this budget is specifics on what programs we鈥檙e going to put forth throughout the summertime to catch all these children up -- and I don鈥檛 see that,鈥� he said.
He鈥檚 concerned about students who have become disengaged, saying that some estimates put the number as high as 16,000 kids.
Gwen Samuel, founder of the 黑料吃瓜网 Parents Union, also worries about how to connect funding to kids who are off the grid.
鈥淲e have to make sure we are leaving no children behind -- I don鈥檛 mean punishing folks,鈥� Samuel said. 鈥淔ind out why they鈥檙e not back in school. Is it the community? Are there towers for internet? Does the family have instability issues?鈥�
She says a funding freeze on the state level makes that effort much harder.
The state had a 3% decline in enrollment at the start of this school year compared to last. A spokesperson for the Department of Education said that continues a trend the state has seen over the last five years.
Rabinowitz believes an even bigger problem may loom. She鈥檚 been racking her brain since the proposal came out: Even if the federal money does what the state intends, what happens when it runs out, specifically to urban school districts?
鈥淪ome of the most challenged districts, for example Waterbury, if they are flat-funded, it will be a loss of $20 million.鈥�
Rabinowitz says a freeze in the ECS helps suburban districts, many of which would lose money if the formula changed.
鈥楤roken Promises鈥�
McCaw faced questions about the budget from the state legislature鈥檚 Appropriations Committee. Rep. Brandon McGee (D-Hartford, Windsor) said he had a philosophical difference with McCaw over the focus of state education funding.
鈥淭he formula is in fact what drives how we fund our districts and that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e been given to deal with,鈥� McGee said on a Zoom call with McCaw.
Like Rabinowitz, McGee said he doesn鈥檛 believe the ECS formula benefits students from 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 neediest school districts. So, he鈥檚 proposed a new bill before the legislature that aims to address the achievement gap for students of color who live in these communities.
Earlier in the week, McGee appeared at a press conference in Hartford and called on Gov. Ned Lamont to act in revamping the ECS formula.
鈥淲e talk about evening the playing field but [we are] veering away from what is right because of politics. And for me that starts with a real conversation about equity...Until that is done we have simply given our children lip service, something they can always see through,鈥� he said.
The ECS formula was implemented to distribute $2 billion to public schools across the state. McGee and others who joined him at the news conference don鈥檛 believe the money鈥檚 being distributed equitably.
鈥淚 refuse to raise my unborn child in a state that does not value her education,鈥� said Jamilah Price-Stewart, Executive Director FaithActs for Education 鈥淵et our discomfort today pales in comparison to the sacrifices our families and communities have made for generations 鈥� to live in a state that would rather spend more to incarcerate us.鈥�
Parents at the news conference voiced their disappointment with socioeconomic divides in their towns.
鈥淸My child] Is Hispanic, [has] special needs and lives in Bridgeport. [Those are] the three factors [that are] up against my son for achieving success in his life.鈥� said Stephanie Nieves, a parent leader.
Rep. Antonio Felipe (D-Bridgeport) expressed support of McGee鈥檚 bill and said he intends to help students and parents achieve success within their school districts.
鈥淚 want to make a promise today 鈥� to look out for everyone. An agenda that looks out for English language learners, to provide for special [education] students,鈥� he said. 鈥淎n agenda that recognizes all children regardless of their skin color, zip code or the size of the family bank account. I want to promise that we legislate [with] the interest of the students and parents.鈥�
Ultimately, parents at the press conference said they don't want any more broken promises. They want to see change within their communities and the proper aid given to support their child's success.
鈥淭hese are our children, these are their lives,鈥� Nieves said.
