Search

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - Four billion dollars in federal education funds is up for grabs and as of right now, Connecticut’s not getting a single cent.

In fact, state leaders aren’t even surprised the state was passed over, but they are hoping to make the most of a second chance.

Connecticut has long been considered a state with good schools. A high percentage of kids here do well on the SAT exams, but the state has fallen behind many others on high school reform emphasizing more math, science, and foreign languages.

“We have to pass high school reform in the General Assembly. It got held up last year in the House. I think this year, it’s a must that we pass this. We’ve been doing high school the same way since nearly the turn of the century in this state, that has to change,” said Sen. Tom Gaffey (D-Education Committee).

Other states have also made advances in tracking kids growth from pre-school to college. - Connecticut has fallen behind other states on this as well. And the city of New Haven has done something the Feds like, but no other Connecticut municipality has.

“The compact that Mayor DeStefano and the City of New Haven made with the Federation of Teachers; where you link teacher performance and evaluation to student achievement,” Sen. Gaffey said.

Sen. Gaffey, the largest state teachers union, and other are coming together to get some of these changes on the books in the next few months in order to have a better application for the Race to the Top federal money in June. Between 100 and 175 million dollars over the next four years will be at stake.