Sarah Lahr Fitzsimons

The meeting included reports from the Finance & Audit Committee, which led to the unanimous approval of the Consent Agenda covering revised programs for 2025-2026 (Project Prevent/Special Revenue Fund/Magnet Schools Division) and new programs for 2026-2027 (Regional Fingerprinting Service and CREC Wide Area Network/Internal Service Fund). The Executive Director provided an update on his initial weeks, including school visits, partner reconnecting, and attendance at legislative and magnet fairs. Council also discussed legislative matters, specifically advocating for the return of $12 million removed from the magnet school budget. Key actions included approving a Tentative Agreement with Teachers after an executive session, and approving a second reading for several revised policies and the deactivation of three existing policies (Goals and Objectives, Fiscal Year, and Business Planning).

This document provides a policy overview detailing adjustments to the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula, including annual inflation indexing from FY 2027. It outlines the phased implementation of student need-based funding for public school choice programs, such as Magnet, VoAg, Open Choice, and State Charter grants, and the gradual phase-out of general education tuition paid by local districts, both occurring from FY 2027 to FY 2030. The policy aims to address the ECS formula's inability to keep pace with inflation, enhance fiscal sustainability and equity in education funding, and improve affordability for residents of Connecticut.

This fact sheet details the Connecticut Teacher Residency Program (TRP), which addresses the disparity between student and educator diversity in Connecticut. Its primary focus is to increase the representation of educators of color by providing comprehensive support, including a living wage, mentorship, and certification assistance. The program emphasizes its success in recruiting, preparing, and retaining teachers of color, demonstrating higher employment rates and percentages of completers of color compared to traditional Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs). The document advocates for investment to enhance educator diversity, build stronger schools, and strengthen communities within Connecticut.

This document outlines the Capitol Region Education Council's mission, vision, core values, and diversity, equity, and inclusion statement. Its mission is to achieve equity, excellence, and success for all through high-quality educational services. The vision is to be the primary resource for member districts, facilitating collaborative efforts to create equitable and sustainable educational opportunities, maximize resources, and advance successful educational practices for all learners. The core values emphasize excellence, equity, courage, and collaboration, underpinned by a commitment to understanding and confronting racism and prejudice while respecting all identifiers.

The meeting included presentations to the Council regarding CREC magnet schools, focusing on teaching and learning methods, accountability, academic performance, and post-graduation transitions. Student representatives shared experiences, including community service efforts following a storm in Jamaica and advocacy for magnet school funding. The Finance and Audit Committee reported the completion of this year's audit and the commencement of the 2026-27 budget process. Deliberated action items included the unanimous approval of required internal service fund account authorizations as mandated by auditors, and the unanimous approval of several revised policies for a second reading, covering areas such as business concepts, investment, accounting standards, fixed assets, petty cash, and plant operations/maintenance. The legislative update covered the upcoming short session starting February 4th, plans for seeking funding for magnet schools and the Teacher Residency Program, and preparation for the CREC/HASA/CABE legislative breakfast.