Education Funding, Book Sale, and more

July 11, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday!

Every 4th of July we have a reading of the Declaration of Independence in front of Fairfield’s Town Hall. This year instead of the typical 20 or so people in attendance, there were closer to 60 or 70.

So many people showed up with American flags and posters protesting tyranny and evoking the roots of our fight for freedom. Given the current political climate, distressing erosion of norms and checks and balances, and the rise in seemingly blind fealty to a leader above principles- our neighbors coming together to protest tyranny on a day to celebrate our independence gave me a lot of hope.

As our young people read the Declaration, I was reflecting on the courage of the men who signed this document back in 1776. They were willing to put their names, and therefore their lives, literally on the line by standing up to the most powerful person on earth and effectively declare war in pursuit of freedom and a government run by the people for the people.

It is this same courage that has the power to heal our ailing democracy. I’m so grateful for the people who made the time to show up and make their voice heard. We must continue.

In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about the fight to preserve our education funding, the Pequot Library's Summer Book Sale, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 

Fighting for Our Education Funding

The Trump Administration haphazardly withholding $7B in the Titled education programs (Title I, II, III, etc.) from the states represents the worst case scenario we’ve feared since his inauguration.

For the time being, this is a $50M impact here in Connecticut to our most vulnerable children.

This withholding of congressionally approved funding causes chaos in how our children are served and cared for with no stated purpose. Schools and organizations can’t properly staff when their funding is withheld like this. 
 
While we prioritized special education in particular this session, and created a new $30M fund for all districts to aid in the provision of special education programming, an unpredictable hit like this is disastrous and is working directly against everything we’ve tried to provide for our districts and children- essential funding and predictability.

The state has no ability to backfill these deep federal cuts and our children deserve better. Our federal government shouldn’t be working against us, it should be working with us and for us.

Thank you News 12 Connecticut for taking the time to talk with me about this.
Click here to watch my interview with News12 and to see their full coverage.
 

Session Recap Event 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Fairfield delegation's post-legislative session update! It was a pleasure talking about the highlights of our legislative session, the work we still have to do for our community, and to hear what your top priorities are. I'm so honored to have the chance to represent you at the State Capitol, and I always look forward to these events to talk with you directly.

Below, you can find a description of what I discussed that was included in a press release on the event:


"Representative Jenn Leeper, Co-Chair of the Education Committee, emphasized the significance of recent education victories during the legislative session, calling them 'transformative' for students and school districts across the state.
 
'We passed some huge victories for Connecticut this year,' said Leeper. 'One of the most exciting is the passage of the early childhood and education endowment. We are leading the nation in establishing this kind of long-term investment in our children’s futures. In my five years serving in the legislature, this is by far the most impactful and meaningful legislation we’ve passed. By 2032, we’re on track to provide universal pre-K access—and that is going to change lives.'
 
Leeper also highlighted the passage of key special education reforms. 'We made real progress for our most vulnerable students—those who need the most support and whose education is often the most expensive for our school districts to provide,' she said. 'The legislation we passed this year will bring meaningful relief to districts and ensure that all students, regardless of ability, are better supported.'
 
In addition to her work on early childhood and special education, Leeper spoke about the importance of other education provisions, which unfortunately didn’t gain final passage but she is hopeful will be tackled in an upcoming special session. This work included a four-year pause on implementation of the racial
imbalance law and the recommendations put forward from the School Safety and Crisis Response Working Group, which she tri-chaired. Additionally, 'this year, we put forward a working group on antisemitism, which is unfortunately really skyrocketing, not only across the nation, but here in Connecticut. That includes developing stronger guidance and accountability tools to make sure schools are safe and inclusive environments for every student,' she said.
 
She also noted the importance of pursuing the proposal requiring school districts to adopt policies limiting the use of smart devices during the school day, saying they are 'really driving loneliness, disconnection, distraction in schools, and whatever we can do to encourage kids be engaging in-person, with one another, and focusing on their academics I think is a really important step in the right direction.'"
 

Pequot Library's Summer Book Sale

One of my favorite events of the year is just around the corner: the Pequot Library's Summer Book Sale!

The five-day sale will be held in large tents on the Great Lawn and parking lot and in the auditorium and reading room of the library (720 Pequot Ave., Southport, CT 06890). The dates and hours this year are:

  • Friday, July 25, from 9am-6pm
  • Saturday-Monday, July 26-28, from 9am-5pm
  • Tuesday, July 29, from 9am-2pm

This year's selection offers a record-breaking number of books and media - over 100,000 items in 30 categories! From vinyl records, to DVD's, to countless books for readers of all ages, this sale offers something for everyone.

In addition, this year the book sale is showcasing more than 500 "special" items, including books over 200 years old, signed books, vintage posters, and more!

This book sale is an amazing opportunity to pick up a book you've never heard of and get lost in its world, and that's why I love coming back every year.

Admission is free, and all proceeds support the Pequot Library's books, services, programs, and exhibitions for adults and children, serving more than 58,000 visitors a year!

You can read more about the book sale here, and you can sign up for a volunteer shift here. I hope to see you there!
 

Bigelow Center Named a Focal Point 

I was so proud to see the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities be recognized as a Focal Point by the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging (SWCAA)!

According to a press release from the Town of Fairfield, "a Focal Point is a highly visible, trust facility where anyone in the community can obtain information and access to aging services."

The Bigelow Center is a cornerstone of our community, offering services for our seniors that keep them active and engaged in our community, and I'm so glad to see it receive this well-deserved recognition!
 

Fairfield's Sidewalk Sale & Street Fair 

A reminder that the Fairfield Sidewalk Sale & Street Fair will be held in Fairfield Center next Saturday, July 19 from 10am-4pm. 

Over 50 local businesses will participate, offering all kinds of merchandise for sale. Sherman Green will feature family-friendly activities, and there will even be music at multiple venues throughout downtown!
 

Touring Our Community 
At the Shore: Fairfield's Beach Neighborhood Walking Tour
Tour meets at Fairfield Museum (370 Beach Rd.)
July 19, 10:30am-noon -- Rain date: July 26
Read more here
Guided Tree Walk Series
Southport Park (170 Old Post Rd., Southport)
July 19, 3pm -- Rain date: July 26, 3pm
Read more here
 

I'm committed to ensuring your voice is heard. Please don't hesitate to call my office at (860) 240-8585 or email me if there's anything I can do for you. Be sure to follow @LeeperForFairfield on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol.


Sincerely,

Jennifer Leeper
State Representative

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