Conn. Charter School Proposal Gets Bipartisan Support

Charter school advocates and lawmakers from both parties expressed support for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal to increase state funding for charter schools, part of $128 million in education reform spending.

If passed, the proposal would increase the state’s per-pupil funding for charter schools from $9,400 to $12,000 while increasing the contribution from local school districts to $1,000 per student for a total increase of $11.1 million.

About 6,000 students attend one of the state’s 17 charter schools. Many are minorities or are from low-income families. The governor has also proposed opening five more charter schools in urban areas around the state.

Charter schools consistently lead the state in performance among low-income groups.