Gov. Rell Signs Education Reform Bill

Governor M. Jodi Rell signed an education reform bill during a news conference at the Hockanum School in East Hartford.  Gov. Rell, Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan, State Senator Thomas Gaffey, and State Representative Andrew Fleischmann addressed an audience of elementary students and educators about the bill.  

"Today, we chart the course for our schools, for our teachers, and most importantly, for our students . . . It is a global economy we live in today . . . The world is now too small and the challenges are far too great for us to settle for anything less than the very best for all of our children," said Gov. Rell.

The bill aims to improve public education and to prepare students for a global economy by emphasizing math, science, and foreign languages in school curricula, creating vigorous high school graduation requirements, increasing the number of charter schools, and increasing parent involvement in education reform through "Parent Governance Councils."  

Gov. Rell and and Commissioner McQuillan commended the efforts of  the coalition of legislators, educators, and advocates in crafting the bill.  

"This is genuinely a team effort," said Commissioner McQuillan.  "I couldn't be more proud of how we have done this work and what it signifies for fundamental reform in Connecticut."

The Commissioner also said the reforms will strengthen Connecticut's application to Race to the Top, a federal grant of up to $175 million for education reforms.  The deadline for the second round of Race to the Top applications is June 1.   

The reforms will begin to affect the class of 2018.