School Guidance, Medicaid Reimbursement Rates, and more

January 31, 2025


 
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Dear Neighbor,
This week has certainly been a whirlwind. Every day included a new series of declarations from the Trump Administration with no accompanying guidance for the states. In particular, the efforts by the federal government to pause trillions of dollars in federal grants - including over $14.3 billion in Connecticut - and the ramping up of arrests of immigrants in our communities, and the tying of DOT safety and infrastructure funds to things like immigration policies, vaccine policies, and birthrates have left many with uncertainty, anxiety, and fear.

While much is unknown about the future, what I can say for sure is my colleagues and I will continue to fight to improve the lives of the residents of Fairfield, Southport, and our whole state.

In this week's eblast, you can read about K-12 public school guidance pertaining to immigration activities, increasing our Medicaid reimbursement rates in Connecticut, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 
K-12 Public School Guidance Pertaining to Immigration Activities

The Connecticut State Department of Education has issued a guidance document to every K-12 public school district in response to questions regarding the impact that recent changes in policy guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pertaining to immigration enforcement activities may have on school operations, student privacy, and the safeguarding of students while in school.

This guidance is lengthy, but it is critical to know what steps our state is taking to ensure compliance with state and federal laws while also keeping our students safe.
 
CT Examiner Article About Education Committee Priorities
Thank you to the CT Examiner for sitting down with me to talk about my ideas for the future for education in CT.

The article is behind a paywall, but you can read some of the highlights below:


 
  • The new co-chair of the State Legislature’s Education Committee said it’s time for the state to reconsider how it evaluates students’ math and reading. 
    • “Since we instituted annual assessments, we haven’t closed any of our opportunity or achievement gaps, student learning hasn’t grown and we surely haven’t incentivized more educators into the profession,” Leeper said in an interview with CT Examiner. “After two decades of this policy, I think it is long past time that we evaluate what’s best for our students and learning.”
  • Rising special education costs is a central topic for the Education Committee this session. Leeper noted that the legislature created a special committee whose sole focus is special education. Moving away from private special education programs and providing more services within the districts is one possible way to lower costs.
    • “We absolutely need to financially incentivize our [school] districts to create those in-house programs,” she said. “There will always be some learners whose needs are so acute and specific that districts can’t accommodate them within the district. But, for as many as possible, if we can get them back in district with appropriate educational learning cohorts, that’s the goal.”
  • Another key topic is re-engaging the estimated 119,000 young people who have been identified as “disconnected” — absent from both school and the workforce. Leeper said she believes engaging these youth has to begin at a very young age. 
    • “It starts from Birth to 3; and access to early childhood education,” Leeper said. “The best dollars that we can spend are those prevention dollars, so that kids are engaged and we are not losing them…. I also think we need to bring our kids into these discussions, instead of just telling them what they need. We need to ask them what they need and help them learn how to best advocate for themselves and to be part of the system that’s making these choices.”
  • Leeper also said she’d like to have the Education Committee consider ways to expand workforce preparation programs in high schools.
    • “I think a huge opportunity for us is to support and foster our technical high schools…. They need some additional support and guidance, because they really are the pipeline for our workforce development — like good paying careers and like changing opportunities,” Leeper said. 
 
Helping State Employees Killed in the Line of Duty
We had an important vote this week.

The General Assembly passed legislation that was inspired by the tragic line-of-duty deaths last year of two Connecticut state employees, including a trooper from the Connecticut State Police and an employee from the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Because of their ages and years of service, neither of those state employees were eligible to receive pensions at the time of their deaths. The change ratified by the legislature this week means that both surviving families in those instances will begin receiving survivor benefits, based on their individual eligibility circumstances. Additionally, this change will apply to all future situations in which a state employee who was not eligible to receive a pension is killed in the line of duty.

It is a tragedy when a state employee is killed while doing their job, and this bill will help take care of families when tragedy strikes.
 
Reminder: Join Me for a Legislative Coffee Hour!
A reminder to please join me and State Reps. Keitt and McCarthy Vahey on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 11am at Wake Cup Coffee (71 Constant Comment Way, Fairfield) for a legislative coffee hour! We'll be discussing what's going on at the Capitol, our priorities this session, and what's on your mind!

These events are so important to the work we do for you in Hartford, and I hope to see you there!
 
Women's Business Development Council Grants
The Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) has announced the next round of their Ignite & Child Care Business Grant Programs will open on Monday, Feb. 3!

The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses and offers grants of up to $10k.
 
You can find more info on the Ignite Grant Program here.

The Child Care Business Opportunity Fund provides grants of up to $25k to qualified licensed & aspiring child care businesses.

You can find more info on the Child Care Business opportunity Fund here.

The WBDC is also holding information sessions on these grants throughout the application period.

Interested applications can register for information sessions here!
 
Taiwan Educational Partnership
I was proud to help announce this week that Connecticut is entering into a partnership with Taiwan to promote educational collaboration between our Connecticut and Taiwanese schools.

With over $241 million of Taiwanese investments and 1,609 jobs supported across various sectors in Connecticut, Taiwan is the perfect collaborator to explore exchange opportunities and strengthen language programs with one another.

Any opportunities to make connections across our communities will benefit our children, and I'm thrilled to see this partnership grow.

You can watch the full press conference, featuring Ambassador Tom Lee, here.
 
Increasing Medicaid Reimbursement Rates

While there is a great deal of uncertainty nationally, we can't stop doing our jobs for the people of Connecticut, and that starts with putting forward good public policy.

House and Senate Democratic leaders announced on Tuesday a legislative proposal to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for providers, which has been a long-term priority of mine. A recent state Medicaid Rate Study found that Connecticut lags well behind peer states when paying providers under Connecticut’s Medicaid program. Many areas of care are currently reimbursed at the same levels they were in 2007. Increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates is a necessary and lifesaving investment, and here in CT we will continue to pursue policy that is in the best interest of the people.

You can watch my colleagues speak on this proposal here.
 
Lunar New Year Celebrations 

Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrate! 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, symbolizing wisdom intuition, and transformation. May this year bring clarity, growth, and prosperity to all who celebrate.

The Fairfield Museum and History Center will hold an exciting Lunar New Year celebration next Saturday, Feb. 8 from 10am-1pm which will feature a lion dance, storytime, and a martial arts demonstration. This is a great yearly event, and I hope you'll check it out!
 
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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