$40M for Special Education & Women's History Month

March 7, 2025

Our children are getting a major educational boost after my colleagues and I voted to allocate $40 million in immediate funding for special education. I'll let you know how much our public schools will receive and why the timing is so important.

Despite this funding, Bridgeport Public Schools need more financial help to support our children. Please keep scrolling to watch a video as I advocate for our great city.

The entire nation is celebration Women's History Month. I'll break down what that entails and what progress we still need to make to ensure gender equality.

Here are the sections in this week's email:

  • $40 Million for Special Education
  • Urgent Need to Support Public Education
  • Celebrating Women's History Month
 
$40 Million for Special Education
I was proud to vote for a bill allocating $40 million in funding to special education, giving immediate support to more than 140 school districts in our state. Bridgeport Public Schools will receive approximately $1.9 million as part of this funding, which will help ensure students receive the specialized support they need to thrive.

My colleagues and I have heard from cities and towns across Connecticut that special education costs are squeezing local budgets. Now is the time to act, as Boards of Education across the state are actively developing their budgets.

While the legislature considers long-term solutions for our special education system, we recognized our school districts needed immediate assistance. Our ultimate goal is to achieve long-term, systemic reform to ensure sustainable funding in this arena.
Special education remains is a legislative priority, and we will continue looking for solutions to lower costs, strengthen services, and provide more financial support for our education system.
 
Urgent Need to Support Public Education
The special education funding is a great start, but we still have plenty of work to do. The Bridgeport Public Schools District has been underserved and underfunded for decades, but I am confident the Bridgeport Delegation and members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus will advocate for more funding in our city. Please watch the video below in which I discuss my optimism for the future.
We are going to find a remedy to save our children.

Unfortunately, President Donald Trump has threatened to close the Department of Education. If this threat become a reality, Connecticut would lose more than $321 million in federal education funding. This would be catastrophic for all students, especially those in Bridgeport and other districts that are already underfunded.

There is no doubt that reducing investment in public education will stunt the development and limit opportunities of students nationwide. Some of the possible affects are:

  • Cutting teacher and paraprofessional jobs
  • Less care for our most vulnerable learners
  • Larger classes sizes

Investing in schools is schools is about strengthening our entire education system and giving all students the opportunity to reach their full potential. Let’s work together in making that a reality. 
 
Celebrating Women’s History Month
March is Women's History Month, a time to honor the extraordinary contributions women have made to our society. Throughout our history, women have shaped our nation through their leadership, innovation, and resilience -- often overcoming immense barriers to create a more just and equitable world. This month, we recognize trailblazers in every field, from science and politics to education and the arts, while also uplifting the countless women in our communities who work tirelessly to make a difference every day.
As we celebrate, it is also a time to reflect on the ongoing fight for gender quality. Women continue to face disparities in wages, healthcare access, and representation in leadership. It is our responsibility to not only acknowledge these challenges but to actively work toward solutions that empower and support women in all aspects of life. By advocating for policies that promote economic opportunity, reproductive freedom, and workplace equity, we ensure that future generations of women can thrive.