Rep. Brian Becker Talks About the State Budget and Legislative Issues Relevant to Education

The state has already proposed making up for the 14 percent drop in the Education Cost Sharing grant to public schools that will be lost when federal stimulus funding expires in June, Rep. Brian Becker (D-19) told the Board of Education on Tuesday.

He also said that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy wants to put together a task force, including education advocates from across the state, to study it further.

"The governor also said he wants to put together task force to look at ECS after the session," said Becker, who represents Avon, Farmington and West Hartford. "It's going to be a hot ticket to get a seat at that table."

He encouraged anyone interested to inquire about it soon.

As per the governor's budget proposal, the state would restore $270 million in Education Cost Sharing funding to keep it at the 2009 level and to fill the gap in anticipated loss of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will expire at the end of June. The federal funding currently makes up 14 percent of ECS funding.

"The governor  has pledged to keep that flat, and the state is making up the 14 percent loss," Becker said. "That is good news for municipalities like Avon, West Hartford and Farmington that all suffer the same fate and are underfunded. ... It could have been worse." 

Avon Superintendent of Schools Gary Mala is pleased that the school district and municipalities across the state will not lose ECS funding if the budget passes.

"While not ideal with no increase in funding being proposed for ECS in the biennium budget, this is nonetheless good news for cities, towns and schools who would have been faced with more significant challenges than already exist had this not been proposed," Mala said. "Understanding that the state budget will be a difficult process, I remain hopeful that the ECS funding as it now stands is ultimately approved."

Another positive possibility about state funding for education, Becker said, is the talk at the state level about increasing the amount of reimbursement for municipalities that are hosting students through the Greater Hartford Region Open Choice program. Currently, municipalities receive about $2,500 from the state for every student hosted through the program, and Becker said that number could rise to $4,000 per student.

"Being a school district with a number of students enrolled under the Open Choice program, I am also pleased that an increase funding has been included in the governor's proposed budget," Mala said.

The Capitol Region Education Council runs the program, giving students from Hartford "the opportunity to attend public schools in suburban towns" and suburban students the chance to "attend public schools in Hartford," according to CREC's decription of Open Choice. Families do not have to pay for the program and "its purpose is to improve academic achievement; reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation; and provide a choice of educational programs for children," the Open Choice Web site states.

"I was especially happy to hear Brian's positive comment regarding increased reimbursement for Open Choice students because just last week I testified before the Education Commission of the Legislature in favor of that bill," Peggy Roell, Avon board of education chair, said.

Funding for special education is a continuing concern in both the municipalities and state.

"There may be talk about reducing reimbursement amount further from where that is today," Becker said. "It's a big hit, could offset the good that’s being done.”

Becker invited any board member or parent with questions or concerns to contact him. His state e-mail address is brian.becker@cga.ct.gov.