As we prepare for a new academic year, one question is getting a lot of attention lately: Are screens helping our children learn, or are they getting in the way?
That was the focus of a special webinar last week hosted by State Rep. Jennifer Leeper, Chair of the Education Committee. I have heard from many parents concerned about how much time children spend on screens during the school day and what that may mean for learning, focus, and development. This is an issue we will continue examining as we prepare for the next legislative session, bringing together educators, administrators, researchers, and other experts to make sure technology is being used in ways that truly support our children. You can learn more by watching the webinar in the link below.
Also this week, I hope you’re taking advantage of Connecticut’s newly expanded Sales Tax Free Week, including savings on many school supplies and other eligible items, now through Saturday (2 more days!). Keep scrolling to that section for more details.
And there is one new law highlighted below that I know will interest many of you: the expansion of insurance coverage for children, parents, and veterans. Keep reading for a short video and a breakdown of how the new policy works.
As always, I want to hear what’s top of mind for you. As we begin looking ahead to the new legislative session in January, please reply to this email with the issues or questions you would like me to learn more about or address. I always appreciate hearing from you.
Savet Constantine
State Representative |
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| Expanded Sales Tax Free Week Underway |
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Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week continues through Saturday, August 22, giving families and shoppers a chance to save money on back-to-school supplies and other everyday essentials.
During Sales Tax Free Week, eligible clothing, footwear, and backpacks purchased from Connecticut retailers and participating online retailers are exempt from the state's 6.35% sales tax. |
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| This year, my colleagues and I expanded the tax exemption to include clothing, shoes, and backpacks priced under $300, and permanently removed the sales tax on non-electronic school supplies. |
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| I hope you take advantage of these savings and keep a little more of your hard-earned money as you prepare for the new school year. |
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| Impact of Screens on Learning |
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More than 150 people joined in last week for a fascinating and important conversation about a question I hear increasingly from parents: Is all of the technology in our classrooms actually helping our children learn?
Thank you to State Representative Jennifer Leeper, Chair of the Education Committee, State Senator James Maroney, a leading voice on AI policy, State Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo of Ridgefield, and cognitive neuroscientist and author Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath for sharing their expertise on screens and education. |
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My biggest takeaway is that technology should have a clear purpose in the classroom rather than simply replacing the ways we know children learn deeply. Teacher-directed instruction, reading physical books, writing by hand, and building a strong foundation of knowledge still matter enormously. As Representative Leeper put it, we need to think carefully about where technology is truly “additive and purposeful.”
This is a conversation I expect us to continue in the Education Committee next session as we hear from researchers, teachers, administrators, parents, and students about what is working and what needs to change. I especially want to continue hearing from parents about what you are seeing in your own children’s classrooms.
Did you miss the discussion? Click the YouTube video below to hear more about the research, the risks, and how Connecticut is beginning to rethink the role of screens and digital technology in our schools. |
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| Listen to the seminar highlighting how technology is affecting our children |
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| And if you want to learn more about the debate on the benefits of analog vs digital learning, check out State Rep. Jen Leeper’s interview on The Lisa Wexler Show. |
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| Speaking of schools, I'm grateful to have been recognized with a top score from the Connecticut Education Association while maintaining a 100% voting record during the 2026 legislative session. These milestones reflect my commitment to being present, engaged, and focused on policies that strengthen public education and improve the quality of life for the residents of New Canaan, Ridgefield, and Wilton. |
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| New Law Expands Insurance Coverage |
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Veterans, children, and parents are celebrating the bipartisan passage of Public Act 26-33, a law expanding health insurance coverage for PANS/PANDAS treatment, scalp cooling systems for chemo patients, athletic prosthetics for people with limb loss, and expanded infertility care.
This legislation is dedicated to the veterans who lost limbs while bravely serving our country, our children who could not participate in sports, the countless parents who advocated on their behalf, and many others.
I am grateful to my colleague, Rep. Kerry Wood, for her leadership on this policy, which makes a meaningful difference.
Click on the image below to watch a video outlining the impact of this new law. |
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| United by Heritage and Public Service |
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I’d like to finish this newsletter by sharing an unexpected yet special surprise from my recent trip to Greece. This past July, I attended the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association conference, which brings together current elected officials of Greek descent from around the world. While participating in a panel in Rhodes, I discovered that the person seated next to me was actually a cousin, Australian Member of Parliament Steve Georganas.
Our Georganas grandfathers came from the same tiny village outside Kalamata. Generations later, their diaspora grandchildren somehow found their way back to Greece, both in public service, and onto the same stage. It was a wonderfully Greek, full-circle moment and a lovely reminder of how far those family and cultural bonds can travel. |
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