May 3, 2010

REP. ROBLES LAUDS ACHIEVEMENT GAP LEGISLATION

State Representative Hector Robles (D-Hartford), a member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, is pleased to announce that legislation addressing the state's achievement gap and giving parents a greater say in their children's education was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives.

Under the bill (HB 5491), local and regional boards of education identified as low achieving due to not meeting adequate yearly progress in mathematics and reading must establish a school governance council with the power to reconstitute schools in three years.

Other provisions include creating a new Parent Trust Fund and allowing the Commissioner of Education to use the resources of the fund to make grants to programs aimed at improving the health, safety and education of children.

"We have heard from parents and education advocates concerning the need to come up with creative ideas in addressing the achievement gap among minority students in our cities and towns," Robles said. "I am pleased to see we are taking a step in the right direction with this measure."

In addition, the bill creates an online credit recovery program for schools with a drop out rate of 8% or greater, requires boards of education to conduct two parent conferences per year and establishes a task force to study issues related to the achievement gap. Finally, boards of education would have to offer an advanced placement (AP) course program, and for State Department of Education to develop guidelines for training teachers for teaching AP courses.

"There is much more that needs to be done to eliminate the barriers and misconceptions around our Black and Latino students and their ability to excel. Without a doubt, they have an enormous potential. We just have to provide them with the necessary elements to help them make it happen," said Rep. Robles.

Representative Robles is serving his first term representing Hartford's 6th Assembly District. He is a member of the Executive and Legislative Nominations, the Finance, Revenue and Bonding, General Law and the Public Safety and Security Committees.