The Hartford Public Schools community is coordinating efforts to advocate for fair, updated education funding in the State of Connecticut.
Here’s what Hartford students need to keep thriving:
Updating public education funding for inflation (the ECS formula hasn’t been adjusted since 2013) and ending local tuition billing
Fully funding SEED and Excess Cost grants, including the rate‑setting commitments for special education and transportation made in the 2025 legislative session
Realigning Open Choice and administrative capacity so that sending districts—not receiving districts—are responsible for the IEPs and related costs of special education services
There are several ways you can help:
1) Give Testimony at the Education Committee Public Hearing
The Education Committee will hold an in-person public hearing on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building (LOB), located at 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106, and via Zoom. There is free visitor parking in the garage behind the LOB.
Oral testimony - sign up link COMING SOON!
In-Person Testimony or Testimony via Zoom - Registration will close on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Resources:
Template for testimony (link)
Template for contacting legislators (link)
2) Write to your legislator: See letter template here.
Contact your legislator, leadership, and members of the Education Committee
Education Committee members
House and Senate leadership
Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, representing Hartford Matthew.Ritter@cga.ct.gov 1-800-842-8267
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney
Looney@senatedems.ct.gov 860-240-0375
Contact List of Representatives
Template for contacting legislators (link)
2) Complete a Postcard
Look for a postcard coming to your school that you can sign! (Postcards will be collected in school offices and delivered to the Governor and Legislature.) You'll need your voting district/s so we can ensure your postcard is received your your representative!