Task Force to Study State Education Funding – Final Report

The final report for the State of Connecticut’s Task Force to Study State Education Funding features recommendations to address problems with the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant formula, which distributes the largest share of state education aid to towns, and certain other major state education grants. The final recommendations build on interim recommendations to (1) support efforts to increase and make more predictable ECS funding; (2) update and improve the ECS formula; (3) support equitable funding for school choice programs, including interdistrict magnet schools and regional agriscience technology centers; and (4) explore fairer and more reasonable approaches to funding services for students with special educational needs. Due to the state's budget constraints, the Task Force offered its recommendations without a specific recommendation for more ECS funding.