Connecticut State Department of Education

📣 The CT FAFSA Challenge is back for 2024-25, with 51 high schools working to boost financial aid access! CT is outpacing the nation in #FAFSAChallenge rates, helping students unlock college opportunities. For more info, vist: https://lnkd.in/eHimxDZA

On Wednesday, I was able to facilitate a professional learning for school teams on - Aligning for Impact: Systems & Strategies for Positive School Climate. It was energizing and humbling being in space with committed educators whom work so hard each day creating spaces that welcome, affirm, and include our students and families.

We couldn’t be more proud of Sreenidi Bala, our incredible student member on the State Board of Education! Today, Gov. Ned Lamont, joined by Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, SBE Vice Chair Erin Benham, presented Sreenidi with a proclamation declaring Oct. 29 as “Sreenidi Bala Day” in Connecticut! This honor celebrates her exceptional work in advocating for accessible STEM education, her commitment to social justice, and for being recognized nationally by First Lady Jill Biden as one of 10 young women leading change in their communities. Congratulations, Sreenidi, on this well-deserved recognition! You not only inspire your peers but also set an example for us all. Keep shining! #SreenidiBalaDay #GirlsLeadingChange

Today’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) State Summit, brought together over 200 CTE educators, administrators, school counselors, and industry leaders at Central Connecticut State University. With powerful insights from Governor Ned Lamont, Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, Chief Workforce Officer Kelli-Marie Vallieres, William Barber from General Dynamics Electric Boat, CCSU President Zulma Toro, and June Archer, the event highlighted our commitment to creating real-world learning experiences that prepare all learners for post-secondary success and showcased how CTE opens #AUniverseOfOpportunities for students to thrive in Connecticut's workforce!

Exciting news from our High-Dosage Tutoring program, which is being implemented in 43 districts across CT! $11.5M was invested by Governor Ned Lamont and Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker to empower students with enhanced educational opportunities and address the education disparities that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Commissioner Russell-Tucker, Vice Chair of the State Board of Education Erin Benham, Director of Special Projects John Scianimanico, and others met with Superintendent Thomas Anderson and school leaders at East Hartford Middle School to discuss and observe the promising results coming out of their HDT program. Based on preliminary results of the state program, middle school students who participated in the High-Dosage Tutoring during the 2023-24 school year closed the achievement gap by closing the growth gap in math, as measured by the results from the end-of-year Smarter Balanced Assessment. 

Parents, Families, and Caregivers, don’t miss the second of our Virtual House Calls series, online tomorrow at 5 pm! During the session, Dr. Stev Vermund from the Yale School of Public Health will be offering expert advice on preventing illnesses like colds, flu, RSV, & COVID-19. Register using the QR code below.

Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker joined Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Superintendent Semmel, and other state and local leaders to celebrate the 2025 Ann Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year recipient, Keysha Evans! Paraeducators play a vital role in supporting all students, thank you Keysha for your dedication to this profession and congratulations on this well-deserved statewide honor! Please see the press release for more info: https://lnkd.in/d-tbSuBq

Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, and Executive Director of the Connecticut Democracy Center Sally Whipple kicked off the 2024-2025 Red, White, and Blue Schools program at the Old State House. To learn more about this program, please visit: https://lnkd.in/esFN8i8B. Congratulations to all of last year’s recognized schools - civics education is for all!

It was a meaningful and emotional evening at the CSDE #DyslexiaAwareness Campaign Kickoff. Charlene M. Russell-Tucker opened the event, which covered structured literacy, assistive tech, family engagement and concluded with inspiring stories from students with dyslexia.

Today, the Connecticut State Department of Education's Talent and Turnaround Offices hosted the 3rd annual Increasing Educator Diversity Conference. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona gave virtual remarks and Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker gave welcome remarks and spoke to the need for a teacher workforce that is reflective of its students, followed by a keynote address from Dr. Pedro A. Noguera, who addressed how teachers can make a difference for all students. In the audience were the next generation of Connecticut educators – participants in our Ed Rising and NextGen Educators program, as well as recipients of our Aspiring Educators Scholarship grant. Thank you, Dr. Noguera for joining us in Connecticut and to Quinnipiac University for hosting this conference!