Education News

Three years ago, a Connecticut high school teacher was fired for violating a non-discrimination policy when she taught a lesson plan that magnified racist stereotypes during Black History Month. Now she’s headed back into the classroom after she won her job back.

When Connecticut needed a computer system for its planned health information network, it came up with a novel solution. Instead of hiring consultants, the state tapped the University of Connecticut to develop the software for the network known as Connie. In 2017, the school created a new unit called UConn Analytics and Information Management Solutions —UConn AIMS for short — to do the work. UConn officials say the state ended the program abruptly.

Democrats believe they’ve on the verge of passing one of the most significant bills of President Joe Biden’s administration. But a major provision that was a high priority for Connecticut was taken out as the party needed to slim down the legislation: funding for child care.

A major active school shooter exercise drill played out Wednesday in Waterford, Connecticut. Over 200 regional law enforcement and first responders participated in the training to prepare for a gunman entering an elementary school — to be faster than Uvalde, Texas.

The task force was created this past spring after students protested and rallied around a student who claimed she was silenced by the university.

Connecticut’s $35 million initiative to address the health care worker shortage is expected to create more than 1,000 additional seats in nursing and behavioral health programs, provide tuition aid for students and support recruitment of more faculty to train them.

Paraeducators help both general and special education teachers in the classroom. But they are expressing concerns of feeling overworked and underpaid, an ongoing situation that was only made worse by the pandemic.

Last year, Connecticut saw a record number of antisemitic incidents — up more than 40% in 2021 over the year before, according to the ADL. Meanwhile, nationwide surveys show a worrying lack of knowledge of the Holocaust. Connecticut requires schools to teach students about the Holocaust. We visit a classroom to learn more.

After years of COVID-19 related learning disruptions, federal officials hope summer learning programs can help kids catch up. First lady Jill Biden visited a New Haven summer program on Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to kick off their multistate summer learning tour.

With more flexible hours and self-paced learning, some alternative schools are seeing new interest from students coping with financial and emotional impacts of the pandemic.