ICYMI: NECSN Joins Gov. Malloy, Students & Clergy to Urge State Legislators Not to Back Down from Education Reforms

Hartford, Connecticut – Today, the Northeast Charter Schools Network (NECSN) joined Governor Dannel P. Malloy, students and clergy to rally on the steps of the State Capitol and urge state legislators not to back down from key parts of last year’s education reform law (Public Act 12-116). In April, the joint Appropriations Committee released their biennial budget proposal. This budget would invest $47.1 million less in education reform measures than the governor’s proposal and essentially gut funding for new charter schools. Now, lawmakers are preparing to make final decisions on a state budget, which will fund education reform for the next two years. NECSN Connecticut State Director, Jeremiah Grace, made the following statement regarding the rally.

“We are here today to urge state lawmakers to not back down on investing in our kids and their future. For too long, thousands of our school children have suffered from low-performing schools. Gov. Malloy’s budget proposal would go a long way to improve our public education system. It treats public charter students more like their district school friends when it comes to funding and increases access to high-performing public charters.

“Given the serious budget constraints our state is under, we are grateful the Appropriations Committee is attempting to keep one of the key promises made to our children in last year’s education reform law – to better fund the state’s charter schools. However, attempts by certain legislators to try and renegotiate last year’s law and strip these efforts to improve our education system are unacceptable."

About the Northeast Charter Schools Network:
The Northeast Charter Schools Network is a regional advocacy organization advocating for the more than 200 charter schools in Connecticut and New York. Its mission is to support and expand high quality charter schools in the region.

846 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105
http://necharters.org
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