S.B. 7 and H.B. 5002 Testimony

March 4, 2026

Education Committee
Legislative Office Building, Room 3100
Hartford, Connecticut 06106

Dear Chairs McCrory and Leeper, Vice Chairs Winfield and Brown, Ranking Members Berthel and Zupkus, and distinguished members of the Education Committee:

I support provisions in Senate Bill 7 that seek to increase state funding for K-12 public education.

I have been a longtime advocate for strengthening public education funding in Connecticut. I believe that public education is a foundational opportunity for every child to gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce, support their families, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Since being elected as a State Senator, funding for K-12 public education has remained one of my top priorities. I have consistently said that Connecticut does not fully meet its obligations to fund public education. Some may debate the numbers, but the reality on the ground in our towns tells the story. Education is too important to be placed on the chopping block.

That is why I am encouraged to see the funding provisions of the bill before you.

The Education Cost Sharing grant begins with a base per-pupil foundation amount, currently set at $11,525, a number that has not been updated since 2013. Legislation I have sponsored this year is straightforward, yet powerful: increase the base ECS funding. My bill is ambitious in that it would take fully into account the inflationary changes since 2013 and bring up the ECS base amount to $16,650. Furthermore, I advocate for tagging the base ECS amount to the Consumer Price Index (for example) to keep it up to date on a continuous basis. This is a responsible and forward-thinking approach.

Increasing the foundation amount puts more real dollars into our classrooms. It helps districts manage rising costs. It provides towns with greater budgetary stability. It helps what public schools do. And importantly, it reduces pressure on local property taxes, thereby in part addressing a major component of the Affordability Crisis that too many people and their families experience every day. This is common sense to do for many reasons.

The more the state invests in K-12 public education, the less towns must rely on property taxes to fund their schools. That makes Connecticut more affordable for families and seniors alike. And it can be done responsibly, within the state’s spending cap, by repurposing and prioritizing existing resources.

I communicate with town officials in my district, and I will continue working with them. I remain committed to working toward bipartisan solutions that strengthen our public schools and support our communities.
The public-school funding in S.B. 7 dovetails with my efforts and is a step in the right direction. It will not realistically solve every issue, but it moves us forward in a meaningful way.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

March 4, 2026

Education Committee
Legislative Office Building, Room 3100
Hartford, Connecticut 06106

Dear Chairs McCrory and Leeper, Vice Chairs Winfield and Brown, Ranking Members Berthel and Zupkus, and distinguished members of the Education Committee:

I am writing in support of the provisions of House Bill No. 5002 that support public education and better funding of special education costs. See my separate testimony on S.B. 7 for more on education costs.

For many of our towns, rapidly rising special education costs are the single most significant and unpredictable pressure on local education budgets. When those costs rise sharply, the burden falls on local property taxpayers. During this ongoing Affordability Crisis, taxpayers simply cannot afford this situation.

I have been a longtime advocate for strengthening public education funding in Connecticut. I believe that public education is a foundational opportunity for every child to gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce, support their families, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Since being elected as a State Senator, funding for K-12 public education and special education has remained one of my top priorities. I have consistently said that Connecticut does not fully meet its obligations to fund public education. Some may debate the numbers, but the reality on the ground in our towns tells the story. Education is too important to be placed on the chopping block.

That is why I am encouraged to see the funding provisions of the bill before you.

This legislation brings greater structure, transparency, and predictability to how special education services are funded. Establishing clearer rate-setting processes and defining reasonable costs will help ensure fairness for districts while maintaining strong services for students.

Requiring that increases in special education aid be used directly for special education purposes strengthens accountability and ensures that state dollars go where they are intended, into direct student services and classroom supports.

Most importantly, this bill acknowledges what local officials across Connecticut already know: special education costs are not optional. They are mandated, essential services that our students rely on. When the state provides clearer rules and more predictable, increased, and continuous funding, it helps towns plan better for and handle their local budgets. And importantly, it reduces pressure on local property taxes.

I communicate with town officials in my district, and I will continue working with them. I remain committed to working toward bipartisan solutions that strengthen our public schools and support our communities.

The public-school funding in H.B. 5002 dovetails with my efforts and is a step in the right direction. It will not realistically solve every issue, but it moves us forward in a meaningful way.

Thank you for your time and consideration.