Schools Could See Major Cuts With Federal Sequester

Under the automatic federal budget cuts, known as the sequester, that are looming this week, the state of Connecticut could lose $8.7 million in education funding along with another $6.3 million in federal funds to help students with disabilities.

Somers Superintendent of Schools Maynard Suffredini said that the cuts would affect his schools, but that he has to wait to assess the impact when it’s clear what the district will be dealing with.

According to information put out by the White House, with the $8.7 million in funding loss for primary and secondary education, around 120 teacher and aide jobs will be put at risk. In addition about 8,000 fewer students would be served an approximately 40 few schools will receive funding.

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Approximately 80 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities will be lost.

Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 500 children in, reducing access to critical early education.

Nationwide, 70,000 children would lose access to Head Start. Community and faith based organizations, small businesses, local governments, and school systems would have to lay off over 14,000 teachers, teacher assistants, and other staff.

Funds would also be eliminated for more that 2,700 schools, cutting support for nearly 1.2 million disadvantaged students. This funding reduction would put the jobs of approximately 10,000 teachers and aides at risk. Students would lose access to individual instruction, after school programs, and other interventions that help close achievement gaps.

Cuts to special education funding would eliminate federal support for more than 7,200 teachers, aides, and other staff who provide essential instruction and support to preschool and school-aged students with disabilities.