Reports & Publications

This policy briefing details the current mismatch between student learning needs and per-student spending in Connecticut’s local and regional public school districts, and examines some of the factors that contribute to this mismatch.

As a result of school districts serving different student populations with different needs, and having access to varying levels of resources, differences in the type of instruction Connecticut students received during the 2020-21 school year varied greatly. This variation resulted in districts with higher student needs being impacted more than those with lower student needs.

This report explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning models and attendance rates among Connecticut’s local and regional public school districts and charter schools. Additionally, this report examines each district’s student needs and the resources available to address changes and disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Connecticut's public school districts remain deeply segregated and significant funding gaps continue to exist between districts that predominantly serve students of color and districts that largely serve White student populations. These are two of the overarching findings from this School and State Finance Project report, which examines racial disparities in Connecticut education funding.

While the Connecticut General Assembly has taken steps toward equitably funding Connecticut’s public school students, Connecticut still faces several obstacles to implementing and maintaining a fully equitable school finance system. This frequently asked questions document looks at one of these obstacles: the lack of a consistent and uniform method for determining how much state support the State of Connecticut will provide for the education of students attending public schools.