New Haven Public School Students, Educators Boarded School Buses Wednesday For State Capitol

NEW HAVEN, CT — Wednesday morning, students, educators, labor, faith, and elected leaders from across the state gathered to testify before the Education Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, urging Gov. Ned Lamont and state lawmakers to increase state education funding for all students during the 2026 legislative session, according to Mayor Justin Elicker. A news briefing was set for 9 a.m., with testimony slated to begin at 11 a.m.

"The state’s Education Cost Sharing formula has had the same foundation amount of $11,525 per student since 2013, despite rising educational needs and rising costs due to inflation," a news release from Elicker reads.

Representatives from 11 Connecticut cities and school districts—Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, New London, West Haven, Waterbury and Windham—were to be in attendance along with other leaders representing a broad coalition calling upon the state to update the state’s Education Cost Sharing formula, the mayor said.

"Meanwhile, municipalities across the state have increased their local contributions to their public schools," a statement from Elciker reads, "This flat funding from the state has contributed to significant funding gaps and shortages in critical staffing areas and a lack of sufficient services for students."

Students were also set to meet with individual state legislators urging them to adopt these measures.

Elicker and New Haven Public School students and educators boarded school buses early Wednesday morning headed for the State Capitol.