Staples High School is the school most Bedford Middle School students are preparing for. The high school, which serves a town of roughly 26,000 residents, is filled with everything a student could want: excellent faculty, latest technology, tennis courts, swimming pool, multiple cafes, and more.

But when we take a look at Bridgeport, a city of 147,216 residents, its schools don’t have the facilities its suburban high schools have.
Money has an impact on every student’s education. Funds contribute to the quality of education a school can provide, and while Westport schools receive more than enough, many schools in Connecticut don’t.

Recently, Connecticut has been forced to face the funding issue head on.

On Sept. 7, Supreme Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ordered Connecticut to possibly change its entire funding system. The judge gave the state 180 days to come up with a solution to make school funding fair for all students. Connecticut must find a way for affluent districts to share the wealth that poor districts haven’t had the ability to receive.

In other words, he believes the government is not following the state’s constitutional “duty” to give everyone sufficient education.
So much depends on the collective wealth a town has. Schools in Westport can be funded by taxing its citizens who typically have a lot of wealth. And at the same time they receive support from the state.
Meanwhile, schools in Bridgeport struggle to get what their students need. According to the Connecticut School Finance Project, Westport schools spend $19,748 every year for every student, while schools in Bridgeport can only provide $13,923. This leaves a difference of almost six thousand dollars between the two neighboring towns that goes to students.

“Ursus” contacted Liz Donohue, the senior advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Malloy. Ms. Donohue believes that the state needs to look at the formula used to determine what money goes where.

“Use of a formula that is based on students’ learning needs, student enrollment and an equitable state/local share for education funding would re-focus education efforts onto students,” said Ms. Donohue. Alternatively, she believes that a system where funding is based on a “student’s learning needs” and a fair share for education finance would bring the focus back onto students.

According to Westport Superintendent Dr. Colleen Palmer, in order for all students in Connecticut to have the same opportunity for a better future, affluent districts may lose part of their funding.
School is the primary force in a student’s life, and providing equality in education creates an equal opportunity for college, a career, or the future in general.

“We have to take care of every child in Connecticut,” said Dr. Palmer, the superintendent of the Westport District. She says the unequal funding in Connecticut must come to a closure so every student will have the same opportunity.

The state was given 180 days for a solution to be submitted. Dr. Palmer wants communities to have relief from mandates that waste time and money on unnecessary resources. She believes one solution is to only allow mandates that declare resources that are necessary for students everywhere.

Ms. Donohue stresses the important role legislation is going to play in finding a solution, “Most importantly, to resolve the question of funding our students equitably and fairly,” says Ms. Donohue, “there must be the political will, courage and leadership among at least a coalition of state legislators, elected leaders and stakeholders to reject the status quo in education funding, and acknowledge there is a better way to fund our students through dialogue and, ultimately, legislation.”

Funding in Connecticut is going to change; it remains to be seen how it will affect Westport.