Rep. Foster Cites Education Advances During 2023 Legislative Session

ELLINGTON-EAST WINDSOR-VERNON, CT — School is now in full swing, and I thought it would be a good time to share some of the big wins in education during the 2023 legislative session.

First, big wins for the 57th District:

• $3.7 million for Ellington schools to improve school air quality
• More than $750k in state grant funding for school mental health specialists across the district

Throughout the state, the legislature also:

• Moved up the eligibility age for starting kindergarten by three months (to align with more states) and will require more play-based learning from pre-K to grade 5 (HB 6880)
• Created reimbursements to schools that purchase local foods for their school meals (SB 1)
• Required high schoolers to take a financial literacy class before graduating (SB 1)
• Allowed trained childcare providers to administer EpiPens (PA 23-150)
• Required a state audit of all standardized testing (PA 23-150)
• Required boards of education to provide translator services and established rights for multilingual learners (PA 23-150)
• Banned child marriages (PA 23-44)
• Ensured all state buildings have diaper changing tables (PA 23-72)
• Required funds from the state's legal settlement with vape giant JUUL to go toward helping kids under 21 (PA 23-47)

To support a future skilled workforce, the legislature:

• Expanded school-based apprenticeship opportunities in aviation and aerospace, training for future paraeducators, and dual credit/enrollment opportunities (PA 23-21)
• Encouraging careers in our K-12 schools, offering nursing licenses at our colleges, and creating opportunities among our existing personal care attendant workforce (PA 23-97)

And while it's not directly tied to the legislature, I want to congratulate the students, faculty, and staff of Skinner Road School in Vernon, for the recent recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School! Skinner Road School has been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School in the category of Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing. It's one of four schools chosen in Connecticut and one of 353 nationally to receive the honor in one of two categories: Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.

Skinner Road School serves 321 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5. More than 60 percent of students are students with high needs. Skinner Road is one of five elementary schools in Vernon, an Alliance District, and the second district school to be named a National Blue Ribbon School in the last five years. The school’s accountability index in 2021-2022 was 82.8, its highest ever. Since 2016-2017, they have been identified annually as a School of Distinction.

Academic growth in mathematics is particularly strong at Skinner Road School. Students with high needs, on average, met 92.7 percent of their mathematics growth targets. In their NBRS application, Skinner Road School highlights the fact that they dedicate two blocks of time daily to mathematics: the Math Workshop block and an additional 25-minute block for math small groups. There is direct instruction happening for part of the workshop block through a mini-lesson. The lessons are designed to help students understand why they are learning skills. After the mini-lesson, students work on applying what they have learned through independent practice. Teachers use data to form flexible groups for math small group time that allows students to receive extra support, intervention, or enrichment.