Response from Donald Williams

Thank you for sharing your concerns with me about education reform in Connecticut.  I appreciate the input we received from Governor Malloy, legislators, and stakeholders including teachers, administrators, parents, reform advocates and policy experts. 

As you may know, the legislature and the Governor were able to craft a compromise bill which includes meaningful changes encompassing everything from school readiness for young children, to the turnaround of failing schools, to teacher certification and evaluation standards, all with the goal of preparing students for the 21^st century’s global marketplace. 

The bill includes several landmark reforms and initiatives:

• 1,000 new school readiness slots, recognizing the undeniable value of early childhood education.
• At least 20 new or expanded school-based health clinics, understanding that a healthy mind depends upon a healthy body.
• At least 10 new Family Resource Centers, to involve more families in their children’s education.
• Two new literacy initiatives, because reading proficiency is the foundation of learning in every discipline and subject area.
• Direct intervention of the state Department of Education at underperforming schools, utilizing School Governance Councils comprised of administrators, teachers, parents, and other local talent.
• Incentives for and evaluations of ever-improving, professional teachers and administrators, acknowledging and respecting that no one is better suited to improve student achievement than the teachers who lead Connecticut’s classrooms and the principals and superintendents who lead Connecticut’s schools and school districts.
• Modest funding increases for vocational/technical and vocational/agricultural schools, charter and magnet schools, and a kindergarten through 8th grade science initiative, with a move to a uniform accounting system to better track school funding and accurately gauge per pupil costs from district to district.

The bill was passed by the Senate with bipartisan support and is now before the House of Representatives for consideration.  Again, I appreciate your participation in the process.  Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of assistance with any other matters.

Sincerely,

Senator Donald E. Williams, Jr.
President Pro Tempore
29th District