Address Equity and Systemic Racism With Educational Funding

SB  948- An Act Concerning The Modeling Of A Proposal For Education Funding In Connecticut.

Official summary: To make revisions to how public education is funded in the state to address issues of equity and systemic racism.
SB 948 promises to fully fund all districts, increase funding for students learning English, drive greater resources to districts with concentrated poverty, and expand the formula to include all Connecticut public school students.

Connecticut’s public school districts remain deeply segregated and significant funding gaps continue to exist between districts that predominantly serve students of color and districts that largely serve White student populations. These are two of the overarching findings from this School and State Finance Project report, which examines racial disparities in Connecticut education funding.

. . .

Among its many findings, the report reveals significant racial disparities in Connecticut per-student funding and a combined $639 million funding gap between districts with BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and people of color] student populations of at least 25 percent and districts with White student populations greater than 75 percent. The report also analyzes racial segregation across the state’s public school districts and finds most Connecticut students attend a district where the enrollment difference between White and BIPOC students is at least 50 percentage points. cite: School + State Finance Project Original Content

Sample Letter of Support for Senate Bill No. 948 An Act Addressing Educational Funding and Racial Equity in Connecticut

[current date]

Dear [Senator or Representative’s name],

My name is [Your Name] and I live in [AddressTown]. I support Senate Bill No. 948 which is written “to make revisions to how public education is funded in the state to address issues of equity and systemic racism.” All Connecticut residents are aware of the inequity in the schools among its 169 towns. The funding for each school district is based on that town’s budget and its tax base. Obviously this system creates large inequities in poorer communities where there are frequently larger minority populations.

A disproportionate number of minority students do not have the same access to educational resources as those students in wealthier communities. Our state needs to take steps to create educational opportunities for all our children. S. B. No. 948 is a good step in providing equitable funding.

[Name

Address, town

Phone #

Email address]

Find Your Legislators’ Names and Contact Info