Connecticut ranked seventh in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Book, which evaluates states based on child well-being.

The state scored well in health and economic well-being. It ranked third for education, a place it has held almost every year since 2016.

But Emily Knox, research and policy director for Connecticut Voices for Children, said education progress has stagnated nationwide.

“We’ve still seen some struggles in recent years related to education, particularly related to the pandemic,” Knox said, "but I’ll also point out those are struggles in every state. That’s a national pattern, that’s not unique to Connecticut at all. We see that basically across the board.”

State lawmakers are working to improve education through initiatives such as the Early Childhood Education Endowment. This year, Gov. Ned Lamont increased public education funding and put money toward a study to improve the state’s education funding formula.

Despite support, some policies, such as a bell-to-bell cellphone ban, did not pass. The proposal is expected to come before lawmakers again in the next legislative session.

Connecticut’s new state-level funding comes amid widespread federal education cuts. The Trump administration’s 2027 budget proposes cutting Department of Education funding by about $8 billion, with changes to federal policies for K-12 public education.

Leslie Bossiere, vice president for external affairs at the Casey Foundation, said the nation is still seeing the impact of pandemic-era learning loss.

“The indicators that declined include fourth-grade reading scores, eighth-grade math scores, and the number of three- and four-year-olds who are entering early childhood education programs,” Bossiere said.

Organizations such as the School Superintendents’ Association are calling for Congress to reconsider or block the proposed cuts. A survey from the association found districts are already in a jam because of high diesel prices, which are forcing them to cut student services, lay off staff and delay facility maintenance.

Source: Public News Service