“This program helps turn around our lowest performing schools.”

 On April 19^th, 2013, the Appropriations Committee cut roughly $37 million in necessary funding for education reforms from Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed budget. This includes $10 million in cuts over the next two years to the Commissioner’s Network.

The Commissioner’s Network was created to turn around our state’s lowest performing schools and provide the support necessary to improve student achievement.

The governor’s proposal of $14.1 million over the biennium was intended to fund the following initiatives within the Commissioner’s Network:

• Increased support for principals and teachers
• 300 hours of extended learning time to schools over the biennium
• Up to five lead partners to manage the schools
• Professional development for coaching on data use
• Community partnerships to provide wraparound services

Currently, four schools are participating in the Commissioner’s Network,[1] and six more schools were invited to develop plans this year:

Under the Governor’s proposal, this initiative would expand to include up to 21 schools by the end of the biennium. However, the Appropriations Committee budget cuts funding for the Commissioner’s Network to only $3.9 million over the biennium, which will reduce the number of schools that can be included in the program from 21 to 12.[2]

We urge state legislators to restore funding for this key program designed to turn around the state’s lowest performing schools.

A better education for thousands of students is at stake.