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www.cabe.org
Vol. 24, No. 3
March, 2020
March is BOE Member Appreciation Month!
View from the Capitol Patrice McCarthy
Deputy Director & General Counsel, CABE
Lisa Steimer
Sr. Staff Associate for Professional Development and Communications, CABE
Sheila McKay
Sr. Staff Associate for Government Relations, CABE
Members of the CABE Board of Directors and staff attended the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) Equity Symposium and its Advocacy Institute in February. One of the Equity workshops by the American College Test (ACT) on social and emotional learning and ELL students discussed the needs beyond the academic that must be addressed in the classroom before a student can move on to learning from educators and classmates. Students need confidence, a sense of belonging, assistance with goal setting and to develop or maintain a pride in their culture. According to ACT, the SEL skills needed are “interpersonal, self-regulatory and task related behaviors important for adaption to and successful
performance in education and workplace settings.” ACT also noted an increased workforce need in SEL skills in 2030 by an estimated 24 percent. Connecticut’s State Board of Education has adopted the Collaborative of Academic and Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) K-3 guidelines that were briefly discussed at this national event. http://bit.ly/2OJelRK. During the Advocacy Institute, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel briefed members on the “homework gap”. She referenced Hartford and the need it had in 2017 and likely still has, to provide internet access to students outside of school so they don’t fall behind their suburban counterparts. Participants attended a workshop on IDEA that asked board members to lobby for HR1878 and its companion, S.866, which would provide full funding for the federal share (40 percent) of IDEA by 2028. Please join CABE’s efforts and lobby your federal representatives on this important issue!
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See BOE APPRECIATION page 3
CABE and NSBA
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Inc.
This year we have added to the Connecticut Board of Education Member Appreciation toolkit facts about Connecticut’s Board of Education members and quotes you can use in recognizing Board members. You
March is “Music in Our Schools” month.
81 Wolcott Hill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109-1242
March is Connecticut Board of Education Member Appreciation month. This is the perfect opportunity to say “thank you” to the hard-working and dedicated board members in your district. We encourage you to recognize the time and effort they devote to board business during the course of the year. Use #BoardAppreciationMonth and #THANKYOU when thanking your Board members on social media.
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The Legislature is off to a quick start, with a flurry of committee meetings, public hearings and deadlines. Many legislative leaders have voiced support for addressing social and emotional learning as well as minority teacher recruitment and retention, which is good news for public education. Testimony can be submitted in person or electronically for any of the public hearings. CABE’s Day on the Hill on March 11, 2020 is the perfect time to continue conversations you had with your legislators during the legislative breakfasts. The deadline for the Education Committee to report out bills is March 23.
State Board of Education February Meeting Patrice McCarthy
Deputy Director & General Counsel, CABE
The February State Board of Education meeting included action on the renewals of four charter schools. The Stamford Charter School for Excellence was given the maximum renewal of five years. Amistad Academy, Elm City College Prep and Achievement First Bridgeport Academy were all given renewals of two years and placed on probation. See STATE BOE MEETING page 3
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CABE Board Survey Results Lockhart College Board Adopts from NSBAC Named CABE Launches the Strategic Show Public Diversity Opportunity Plan, Code of Support for Committee Scholarship Conduct Public Schools Chair
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