Partnership for Connecticut's Future

pandyad — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:44:12 +0000

Connecticut’s Crisis

Since the last election:

$2 billion in new state taxes.
More than 100,000 jobs lost.
The country’s third worst business climate.
Businesses – small and large – leaving the state.
And what are they doing in Hartford?
Considering even more costly job killing bills…

Worried about the future?

Go to My Legislators and find the contact information for your state senator and representative.

Tell them to stand up for local businesses.
Say no to legislation that kills jobs.
Support our economy and jobs.

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:41:50 +0000

By Lesia Winiarskyj
A task force of business, education, and community leaders today released a blueprint for a 10-year-plan to improve the state’s public school system. The Connecticut Commission on Educational Achievement, a bipartisan, privately funded, volunteer group established in March by Gov. Jodi Rell, has spent almost eight months investigating the state’s educational achievement gap and developing strategies for closing it. Their plan, which includes nearly 60 specific recommendations, was unveiled at a press conference at the State Capitol this morning.
The Gap
The achievement gap—measured by grades, standardized test scores, dropout rates, course selection, and college completion rate—is the disparity in academic performance that separates low-income and minority students from others. Connecticut’s achievement gap is currently the worst in the nation.
“We are 50 out of 50—dead last,” said Steve Simmons, chair of the commission and CEO of Simmons/Patriot Media and Communications LLC. With only weeks to go before the gubernatorial election, he said, we must call on Connecticut’s next leader to become “the education governor” and to “make narrowing the gap one of his highest priorities.” This is an effort, he explained, that requires “commitment from the top.”
The plan’s key proposals are divided into six broad categories:
1. Accountability. Drive accountability for educational change by letting the new governor lead the charge, appointing a secretary of education who reports directly to the governor, and establishing a new commissioner of early-childhood education and care.
2. High expectations. Set high expectations for all students, with curricula and supports that enable all students to meet those expectations. Steps include increasing access to pre-K and full-day kindergarten, aligning statewide curricula to higher standards, identifying and supporting low-achieving students early through extended learning time and tutoring, and requiring high school students to pass the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) to graduate.
3. Leadership. Actively recruit the most effective superintendents, principals, and related staff; create programs that train administrators to be effective in low-achieving schools; and train principals in new evaluation and data systems.
4. Excellent teaching. Ensure that low-income students—indeed, all students—have well-trained, highly effective teachers; promote alternate routes to teacher certification; demand accountability from teacher preparation programs for producing effective teachers; and recognize and reward outstanding teachers through a new career ladder and performance bonuses.
5. Intelligent investments. Provide an efficient, transparent way of funding public education by reviewing the student weighting formula for distributing state aid to school districts and phasing in changes over three to five years. (For the past several years, the funding formula has not been followed due to fiscal constraints.) Over time, have money follow a child within a district to the public school of his or her choice.
6. Turnaround schools. Improve our lowest-achieving 5% of schools through greater authority, accountability, and more time for learning; establish a school turnaround office with the authority to aggressively intervene in the lowest-performing schools.
Raising the Bar for All Teachers, Schools
A major focus of the commission’s report, said Yvette Melendez, is teacher quality. Melendez is a board member of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and former chief of staff of the Connecticut State University System.
“Excellent teaching,” she said, “is the most important driver of student achievement.”
In this category, the commission recommends restructuring teacher prep programs to encompass more in-classroom training, including field experiences in high-need districts; terminating teacher prep programs that fail to produce effective teachers; streamlining the process to remove ineffective teachers from schools; providing financial incentives and mentoring to attract excellent teachers to high-need schools; and instituting a compensation system that appropriately rewards novice, intermediate, advanced, and master teachers based on performance.
“Teacher effectiveness must be at the heart of teacher tenure decisions,” Melendez said.
Just as teachers would fall into or advance through certain categories, so would schools, said commission member Ramani Ayer, retired chairman and CEO of The Hartford.
The commission’s report, he says, includes a recommendation for the State Department of Education and Board of Education to categorize schools into one of five tiers.
“We must bring a singular focus to the issue of failing schools,” said Ayer, and create a “school turnaround office that has a clear mandate to intervene in the lowest-performing schools.” Failing schools would be those in the bottom two tiers of the categorization system.
Other recommendations Ayer outlined included actively recruiting top school administrators through reciprocity arrangements with other state departments of education; building in specialized strands in urban leadership and turnaround schools for administrator training; introducing new teacher evaluation methods and training school principals in those assessments; speeding up the development of data systems that evaluate teachers, administrators, and pre-K programs; and giving school superintendents sufficient latitude in terms of their curricula and budgets.
Dudley Williams, director of district education strategy at GE Asset Management Group, addressed the need to invest intelligently, including adopting a statewide common chart of accounts that encourages transparency and efficiency in education spending. Among other things, the commission has recommended that Connecticut’s legislature authorize a pilot study to explore how some of the state’s 166 separate school districts could consolidate and share services—thereby increasing efficiencies and reducing costs.
Indeed, while Connecticut spends more on education per pupil than almost all other states, its lowest- performing students score in the bottom third on national tests—alongside such traditionally poor-performing states as Louisiana and Georgia.
Competitiveness at Risk
For decades, Connecticut has enjoyed a strategic advantage over other states by virtue of having one of the most well-educated, highly skilled workforces in the country. Simmons began the press conference by acknowledging that students in our state have performed very well overall and that “Connecticut’s education system has much to be proud of.” But a closer look, he said, reveals an enormous gap in test scores, graduation rates, and other measures of achievement between the state’s low-income and non-low-income students. On average, low-income students perform three grade levels below their more affluent peers, and while the achievement gap is evident in the math and reading scores of fourth-graders, factors that contribute to the gap are in place long before students reach fourth grade.
The commission emphasizes that increasing the effectiveness of pre-K programs—and low-income families’ information about and access to these programs—can go a long way toward preventing problems that require intensive remediation.
“The earlier the intervention,” said commission member John Rathgeber, “the stronger the outcome.”
Rathgeber, president and CEO of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, has characterized Connecticut’s achievement gap as “unacceptable,” adding that “we must demand more from our educational investment.” Connecticut’s achievement gap, he says, combined with its high labor and energy costs, could drive companies to states where business costs are lower and skilled workers more plentiful.
Ripe for Change
Asked why the group believes its recommendations have a chance of moving forward even after past reform efforts have lost momentum, Simmons explained, “For the first time in a generation, we have a Democratic president and secretary of education pushing real reform to close the achievement gap,” adding that “both gubernatorial candidates have indicated that they are fed up with the status quo” and want to close Connecticut’s gap as well.
Commission members also fielded questions regarding how reforms will be funded—particularly at a time when our state faces massive budget deficits.
“We owe this much to our children, our state, and our country,” said Simmons, adding, “If we don’t make these investments, our state will be fiscally and economically worse off.”
Simmons also noted that while increased pre-K access and additional remediation efforts for struggling students cost money, many of the commission’s recommendations—such as appointing innovative and dynamic leaders, revising teacher tenure laws, promoting alternative routes to certification, encouraging shared services among school districts, and reallocating some of the state’s $600 million in categorical grants to meet these goals—have no additional costs associated with them. In fact, he argued, many of the recommendations will result in cost savings.
A number of the commission’s members, he noted, are CEOs or former CEOs who are “extraordinarily conscious of the fiscal situation in our state. This is not necessarily a matter of spending more money but looking at how we’re spending our money.”
In addition to Simmons, Rathgeber, Ayer, Melendez, and Williams, the 11-member commission includes David Carson, retired chairman and CEO of Peoples Bank, Bridgeport; Roxanne Cody, president and founder of R.J. Julia Booksellers; William Ginsberg, president and CEO of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; Carla Klein, former teacher and member of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund; Peyton Patterson, chairman, president, and CEO of New Alliance Bank, New Haven; and Steve Preston, president & CEO of Oakleaf Waste.
The commission’s entire report is now available at ctachieve.org.

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pandyad — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:26:14 +0000

Support Real Education Reform!

> “Put Children First”

How can we fix Connecticut’s failing schools? Reverse plummeting graduation rates? Attract and keep great teachers and principals? Connecticut voters support education reform. So do parent groups, school administrators, and business and community leaders. Shouldn’t Connecticut move ahead with real reform? Adopt ideas that work in other states?
Put children first. Keep the promise of a great education. The opportunity for success.
Support the Governor’s reform proposals. Call your legislators today.

> “It Cannot Be an Excuse”

Poverty plays a big role in Connecticut’s education crisis. But it cannot be an excuse to delay real reform.
In states like Massachusetts, low income students dramatically outperform their peers in Connecticut.
Why?
Because those states attract and keep great teachers and principals. And intervene quickly to fix failing schools.
Good teachers and good schools are a way out of poverty, an opportunity for kids to succeed.
Support the Governor’s reform proposals. Call your legislators today.

Headlines

> Back to the Future

While other states acted, Connecticut ignored education reform. While other states showed foresight and courage, Connecticut did little. The result? Read more >>

> Connecticut’s Freefalling Graduation Rate

The need for real education reform in Connecticut is readily apparent. The alarming results of a new study on graduation rates only highlight the urgency for real reform. Read more >>

> Revisions to Education Bill Put Unions Above Students

“The revised education bill essentially accomplishes the following: It guarantees that for the next two years, at least, one out of every five high school freshmen will not graduate on time — if at all. Read more >>

> Extending the Reach of Excellent Teachers

The U.S. spends more per capita on K-12 education than almost every other country on Earth, yet achievement gaps persist and we have fallen behind globally. Read more >>

> Another Missed Opportunity for Connecticut

It’s a story we’ve heard over and over again. Other states passing Connecticut by with bold reform policies that are helping improve student achievement. Read more >>

> Voters Support Education Reform

Connecticut voters overwhelmingly support education reform proposals aimed at attracting and retaining the best classroom talent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Read more >>

Governor’s Office Job Cuts a Good Start

admin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:03:50 +0000

Yesterday, Governor-elect Malloy’s transition co-director and soon-to-be chief of staff Tim Bannon—a former commissioner of the state Department of Revenue Services—said that the 32 positions in the governor’s office will be reduced to 27.

That move is consistent with Malloy’s oft-cited pledge to cut 15% of the nonunion positions in the state’s executive branch that he has a role in filling.

The question is whether the cuts Bannon announced are a sign of things to come or symbolic.

Reducing the size and cost of state government should be a top priority, and Malloy has said that he would exhaust all options for spending cuts before looking at the revenue side of the state budget.

In an interview published in the October issue of CBIA News and throughout his campaign, he pledged to reduce the number of state agencies by one-third. He said he would achieve those reductions by “consolidating duplicative processes” and merging state agencies.

Those are encouraging signs, and the move to reduce the number of positions in the governor’s office is a good first step.

—Bill DeRosa

Democrats Lose Veto-Proof Majority in Senate

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:00:31 +0000

By Bill DeRosa

(Nov. 3, 2010) Democrats easily retained control of the Connecticut State Senate, but the loss of longtime incumbent Thomas Colapietro to Republican challenger Jason Welch in the 31st District (Bristol, Harwinton, Plainville, and Plymouth) likely means that the Democrats lose their 24-to-12 “veto-proof” majority in the Senate.

Results show a new Senate breakdown of 13 Republicans and 22 Democrats, with one subject to an automatic recall. In the 4th Senate District, Republican “Chip” Beckett and Democrat Stephen Cassano were within about 65 votes.

Gaining the extra Senate seat enables the GOP to sustain any veto by the governor. However, with the apparent election of Democrat Dan Malloy who would presumably work with the majority party, that scenario becomes less likely.

Among the other Senate races:

In the 21st Senate District (Monroe, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford), Republican Kevin Kelly defeated his Democratic opponent James Miron in the race for the seat vacated by Republican Dan Debicella, who lost his bid for Congress to incumbent Jim Himes in Connecticut’s fourth Congressional District.
In the 16th-District, covering the towns of Cheshire, Southington, Waterbury, and Wolcott, GOP candidate and former state senator Joseph Markley defeated Democrat John N. Barry in the race for the seat vacated by Republican Sam Caligiuri, who ran for Congress in Connecticut’s 5th district but lost to incumbent Chris Murphy.
Republican David Pia holds a lead over Democrat incumbent Anthony Musto in the 22nd District (Bridgeport, Monroe, Trumbull), but returns were still incomplete and there were some reports of ballot irregularities.

‘Let the Private Sector Loose’

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:58:36 +0000

By Bill DeRosa

After a Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives, a gain of six seats in the Senate, and significant pickups in gubernatorial races nationwide, two of the country’s largest business advocacy groups believe the results of the 2010 election portend brighter days for the nation’s economy and private sector.

“Let’s let the private sector loose,” said John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and former Michigan governor. “I think it will do a lot [for the economy].”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said in a video message that voters have given Washington a clear directive to focus on job creation and economic growth.

“Voters have resoundingly rejected more government spending, higher taxes, and more burdensome regulations that have caused crippling uncertainty for businesses,” Donohue said.

Causing delays

NAM echoed Donohue’s concern about the effects of uncertainty on the private sector in an online statement.

“More than anything else, manufacturers are looking for certainty. Recent surveys of manufacturers show that the uncertainty caused by policies coming from Washington is causing many businesses to delay or put off hiring decisions and reduce investments that will make them more competitive. As it stands, manufacturers do not know what is coming down the pike, from increased taxes to greater regulatory burdens imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

Speaking earlier today on CNBC’s Squawk Box program, NAM’s Engler was optimistic about the implications of the power shift in Washington and called on the new Congress to remove the regulatory and other barriers that have been holding businesses back.

“I think we’re going to get a good start on what we need,” said Engler, “…because Speaker Boehner, being from Ohio, really understands first hand not just what he’s experienced in his own life, but just being from that state that’s so critical, how this is an election about jobs and its economy, at its fundamental core, and people want to see America competitive.”

Powerful message

“Today, Americans sent a powerful message to Washington: Focus on job creation and economic growth” said the U.S. Chamber’s Donohue. “Congress will have another opportunity to make restoring economic growth its top priority and, with more balance, they will have to work on a bipartisan basis to achieve it. This time, they must take advantage of it.”

This Much We Know

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:43:55 +0000

By Dave Conrad

We haven’t morphed into Florida circa 2000–yet–but the confusion in Bridgeport is giving our gubernatorial race the potential to be a Connecticut Yankee-style sequel.

Which means, we don’t know who our next governor is and may not know for some time. Hopefully, we can avoid the awful drama that was the Sunshine State 10 years ago.

What we do know is this:

The national Republican tidal wave hit our shores, but not strongly enough to carry a big impact.
After what everyone thought were at least two races that could go into the “R” column, Connecticut voters returned all five incumbent U.S. representatives back to D.C.
Dick Blumenthal’s lengthy and popular tenure as attorney general was too much for even an aggressive challenge from wealthy Republican newcomer Linda McMahon.
Democrats in the state Senate are likely to lose their veto-proof majority.
Democrats in the state House have apparently lost their supermajority.
Neither of those last two facts is likely to mean much if Dan Malloy ultimately wins the governor’s office.

So, all in all, the Land of Steady Habits lives up to its name. In a big year of change in the U.S., voters stayed pretty close to home.

Elections Are Over – The Work Continues

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:32:30 +0000

With elections finally over we would like to congratulate the winners of Tuesday’s races and thank all our supporters for joining the fight for Connecticut’s future.

We look forward to working with our new Governor, members of the state legislature from both parties, and all newly elected state officials to ensure that they uphold their campaign promises and put Connecticut’s future first.

No matter who won in your district, one thing is clear: Job growth, fiscal responsibility and government accountability were the prominent issues in this year’s election.

While the elections are over, our work is just beginning. With 100,000 unemployed Connecticut workers and a $3.5 billion state budget deficit, we all have a stake in Connecticut’s future and need to work together to hold our elected officials accountable.

Job creation, reducing the state budget deficit, improving public education and improving our state’s business environment must be our leaders’ key priorities.
In just a few short months, the Partnership has grown to include more than 5,000 individuals in more than 130 towns, 290 businesses, and 55 organizations. Your voice counts and needs to be heard!

Please take a minute to find out who won in your districts on our Elections Results page: http://partnershipct.org/election-results/. Then give your legislators a call, meet with them and tell them about the issues that matter to you and your family.

Ask them what they will do to fix the state’s budget crisis. Ask them how they will encourage private sector investment in Connecticut. And, ask them about their plan for creating jobs.

Thank you again for your support over the past few months. There is a lot of work to be done in the months ahead and we look forward to working with you in the fight for Connecticut’s future.

Keep fighting!

Chair of CBIA Board Urges Business Community to Hold Elected Officials Accountable

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:25:43 +0000

By Bill DeRosa

Speaking in Hartford this week at the 195th annual meeting of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), Peter Kent, chairman and CEO of Bicron Electronics in Canaan, told the more than 450 businesspeople in attendance that they have a responsibility to be politically engaged.

“If we want responsible government, if we want accountability from those we elect to represent us, then it starts with us,” said Kent. “If we want better, if we expect more, then it’s not enough to demand it; we must get involved.”

Kent, whose one-year term as chair of CBIA’s Board of Directors ends in December, told business leaders that one of the ways they can have the most impact in shaping the political debate before and after the elections is by joining the Partnership for Connecticut’s Future.

The partnership is a bipartisan group of citizens, business organizations, and community and business leaders committed to bringing good jobs, economic growth, and accountable state government back to Connecticut.

“The organization was designed to bridge a gap—educating voters on the issues and helping candidates and elected officials learn about practical solutions for getting Connecticut’s economy moving again,” said Kent.

“And because it doesn’t endorse candidates or political parties, the partnership avoids distractions that might further distance voters from policymakers.”

The partnership’s activities include mobilizing employers and their employees to engage candidates and elected officials in direct dialog about Connecticut’s most urgent economic and fiscal issues. Those issues include the need to make state government more efficient and less expensive and create a business climate that encourages employer investment and job creation in the state.

“For me, the partnership is a dream-come-true,” said Kent. “Within my company, our employees have answered the call.

“They’re finding out about the issues, and they’re reaching out to candidates in their local areas. We bring candidates in for regular town hall type sessions, where our employees get to ask direct questions.

“Opening our doors like this generates one-on-one conversations between our employees and their political leaders and creates enthusiasm not only through the election campaign, but also the next legislative session.”

CBIA members can join the partnership at partnershipct.org or by calling 877.316.9990.

New Report Ranks Connecticut Near Last in Competitiveness

admin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:54:37 +0000

The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University released its tenth annual State Competitiveness Report. Published since 2001, the report has drawn the attention of policymakers, economists and public officials seeking to identify strengths and weaknesses in the economic performance of their states.

Read more and find out how Connecticut ranked here.