Public News Service

A new survey found 64% of teachers and 67% of special education teachers in Connecticut would not recommend pursuing a career in teaching and 46% said they would not have become educators if they could start over. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: CT educators burned out from ongoing teacher shortage

As Connecticut's school year begins, the state is still dealing with a teacher shortage. Almost every subject area is facing a statewide shortage …

Fewer than half of all high school students were able to fill out the FAFSA application in the past year, due to online issues. (Adobe Stock)

CT group provides clinics to help students with FAFSA

A Connecticut group is hosting an information clinic tomorrow about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program, known as FAFSA. The Center …

Mental Health America's 2024 State of Mental Health report found close to 20% (54,000) of Connecticut young people have had at least one major depressive episode. (Adobe Stock)

CT doctors advise best back-to-school health practices

With Connecticut schools starting soon, doctors said healthy practices can help children heading back to the classroom. In the transition from …

A Pew Research poll showed more than half of U.S. adults think the country's K-12 public education system is headed in the wrong direction. Voters across party lines aren't certain education isn't doing right by kids. (Adobe Stock)

Education remains strong CT voter priority in 2024 elections

Connecticut groups said education is a top priority in the 2024 election. Vice President Kamala Harris is vowing to continue and expand on Biden …

Connecticut's Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care estimated the state loses around $1.5 billion yearly due to a lack of infant and toddler care. (Adobe Stock)

CT legislation helps reduce child care provider shortage

Legislation in Connecticut could help reduce the ongoing child care workforce shortage Reports show some 40,000 child care positions unfilled…

A new report shows Connecticut has reduced the number of children in poverty and the number of children whose parents lack secure employment, and has fewer kids living in households with a high cost burden. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT child education suffers in pandemic aftermath

A new report finds the well-being of Connecticut's kids is wavering in the pandemic's aftermath. The state ranks 8th in the Annie E. Casey Kids Count …

A Pew Research report finds the number of Hispanic workers in STEM fields has grown only 1% between 2016 and 2021, aligning with their overall growth in the workforce. (Adobe Stock)

CT church hosts STEM advocacy talks for Hispanic students

A Connecticut church is hosting a discussion this weekend to encourage Hispanic students to work in STEM fields. The talk is part of Hispanic Access …

Connecticut's teacher certification process has not been changed in 26 years. (Adobe Stock)

CT bill updates teacher certification process, could reduce shortage

A newly passed Connecticut bill will modernize the teacher certification process. House Bill 5436 is expected to make it easier for educators to …

Some states are taking action to end legacy admissions. In 2021, Colorado banned legacy admissions at its public universities, and a similar bill was passed earlier this month in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

CT legacy admissions bill to be voted on by state Senate

Connecticut's State Senate will take up a bill that would address legacy admissions at its public and private colleges and universities. Senate Bill …

A Data for Progress poll finds 70% of voters, across party lines, feel colleges and universities shouldn't consider legacy status in admitting students. Only 22% said schools should be able to consider legacy status. (Adobe Stock)

CT General Assembly considers eliminating legacy admissions

Connecticut is considering ending legacy admissions -- the practice of giving preference to family members of alumni -- at all public and private coll…

A report from The 74 Million showed Bedford Middle School in the Westport School District has the largest enrollment decline in Connecticut, at 40%. (Adobe Stock)

K-12 enrollment declining in Connecticut schools

School enrollment has declined statewide in Connecticut. State education data shows between 2018 and 2023, statewide enrollment was down more than 17…

Report: CT early childhood education needs improvements

Child advocates feel early childhood education must be a top-of-mind issue for Connecticut lawmakers. A new report found early learning in the state …

Report: More than 119,000 young adults in CT 'disconnected' or at risk

Connecticut has what one group sees as an overwhelming population of "disconnected" young people, from ages 18 to 26, who aren't in school and aren't …

As of the 2023-2024 school year, Connecticut has 11.2% educators of color, teaching a population made up of 52.5% students of color. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT student diversity outpaces educator diversity

The latest report finds large diversity gaps between Connecticut students and teachers. The Diversity Gap Update finds there are more students of …

A 2022 American Jewish Committee report found 38% of Jewish people changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism. The same year, Connecticut ranked 11th for states with the most antisemitic incidents in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

Rising college tension reflects national growth of antisemitism

Antisemitic incidents have grown on college campuses in Connecticut and across the U.S. In the latest report from the Anti-Defamation League…

School librarians are facing shortages in Connecticut and nationally. Connecticut has faced shortages in multiple subject areas for some time, and the national decline predates the pandemic, with 1,800 librarian positions lost between 2016 and 2019. (Adobe Stock)

CT school librarians celebrate reading during American Education Week

During American Education Week, Connecticut school librarians are highlighting their value in molding young minds. Valerie DiLorenzo, a school …

As of 2023, there are 3,800 staff vacancies in early child care programs. Staffing shortages are preventing programs from enrolling enough kids to break even. Only 32.3% of child care centers reported positive cash flow. (Adobe Stock)

CT child advocates hope to blunt impacts of new education law

Child advocates across Connecticut are imploring Gov. Ned Lamont to increase state funding for subsidized preschool and child care slots. It would …

The Economic Policy Institute found one of the biggest vacancies in the teacher workforce is in special education, at 45%. (Adobe Stock)

CT Education Group Considers Remedies for Ongoing Teacher Shortage

As kids return to school, Connecticut's teacher shortage will seriously impact the new school year. The state's Department of Education finds …

Connecticut libraries are protected by a statute covering library records and confidentiality. Some librarians in the state feel this helps protect people's privacy and enables reading without the threat of intrusion. (Adobe Stock)

CT Libraries Help Kids Prepare for Back-to-School

As kids prepare to go back to school, Connecticut libraries say they're ready to help their eager minds learn. In addition to vast catalogs of books …

Although Connecticut's rankings in most health-related areas declined in the latest Kids Count Data Book, the state saw minor improvement in the number of children with health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Children Need Health, Education Investments

Investments in education and health are needed to bolster Connecticut's children, a new annual report found. In the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids …

Almost all departments in Connecticut schools saw shortages in 2022, following a long-standing national trend. A 2022 American Federation of Teachers report found before the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 300,000 teachers were leaving the profession each year. (Adobe Stock)

CT Teacher Shortage Worsens As School Year Ends

As the school year ends, Connecticut's teacher shortage seems to have only worsened. In March, school districts across the state reported having 2,60…

A 2023 Gallup-Lumina Foundation Poll found 36% of Black bachelor-degree students have other responsibilities, such as being a caregiver or working at a full-time job, compared with 18% of other students. (Adobe Stock)

Report Shows Decline in Black Students Enrolling in CT

Black student enrollment in college is declining, according to a recent report. The Lumina Foundation's Level Up report found more than 300,000 Black …

Connecticut's Education Cost Sharing Formula estimates it costs $11,525 to educate one public-school students. The goal of the ECS is to spread more than $2 billion across the state to fund education programs. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Bill Would Speed CT Education Funding Plan

A bill in the Connecticut General Assembly could change how the state funds public education. The bill is designed to speed up fully funding the …

The American Teachers Act of 2022, filed in the U.S. House of Representatives in December, would make $60,000 the minimum salary for public school teachers. But it's sitting in a House committee. (Adobe Stock)

CT Educators Want Prompt Action to End Teacher Shortage

Connecticut, along with most of the United States, faces a teacher shortage. The shortage has caused class sizes to increase and teachers to …

According to the Giffords Law Center, guns are the leading cause of death for Americans under age 18. (Adobe Stock)

A Decade after Sandy Hook, Assault-Weapons Ban Demands Continue

On the ten-year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a local organization is still working to see a national assault-weapons …

According to a report from the American Federation of Teachers, a flurry of high college costs, low salaries and high interest rates has led to new teachers facing an average of $58,500 in student loan debt. (Adobe Stock)

CT Educators Stretched Thin in Teacher Shortage

A new report confirms Connecticut isn't the only state where school districts are scrambling to cover a shortage of teachers and other school professi…

The Gallup-Lumina report also found the financial cost of college is an important reason some students don't continue their education. The average student debt for Connecticut residents is $35,000. (Adobe Stock)

College Students Who "Stopped Out" Want to Return, But Face Challenges

In the wake of disruptions and losses due to COVID-19, research shows the majority of college students in Connecticut and beyond who left school over …

According to research from the Center for American Progress, 44% of Connecticut residents live in a

Children's Trust Fund Proposal an Investment in CT Families

A proposal in Connecticut would create a Children's Trust Fund, to support a state Child Tax Credit and early child care initiatives. Advocates said …

The organizations that are part of the National League of Cities grant say they hope to engage with 200 to 300 young people in Bridgeport during the 18-month initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Bridgeport Initiative Aims to Break Down STEM Career Barriers

Bridgeport is one of six U.S. cities selected for an 18-month project kicking off this month, to create more education and career opportunities for …

Other policy recommendations in the report include mandating that officers complete 40 hours of racial bias and youth-specific training prior to interacting with students. (Adobe Stock)

Report: School Officers Don't Make Students Feel Safer

A new report shows the presence of police officers in school settings contributed to more referrals to law enforcement, particularly for students of …

According to the 2021 Kids Count Data Book, the number of Connecticut children ages 3 and 4 not enrolled in preschool has dropped in the last decade, from 38% in 2009-2011 to 34% in 2017-2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report Suggests More CT Families Backslid Financially in Pandemic

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut ranks in the top 10 states for children's education and health, but its families rank lower in terms of economic well-…

According to a new report by the Marie Christie Foundation, one in five college faculty members has had one-on-one discussions with a student about that student's mental well-being. (Adobe Stock)

Report: For Mental-Health Concerns, College Students Turn to Faculty

HARTFORD, Conn. - Emotional distress among college students is on the rise, and a new report says faculty members want more mental-health training to …

Connecticut lost a congressional seat after the 2020 census, something that could happen again if there is a significant undercount this time. (Greater New Haven Counts)

Census Parade to Roll Through CT Friday

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A parade of cars will roam New Haven Friday, blasting out tunes -- part of an event to draw attention to the census. The 2020 …

Title IX Complaint Takes Aim at Transgender Teen Athletes

HARTFORD, Conn. – A conservative religious law firm has filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of three …

The arrest rate for Latino students was six times higher at schools with School Resource Officers. (gerasimov174/adobestock)

Report Finds Little Academic or Safety Benefit from Police in Schools

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A new report says the presence of police officers in schools does not appear to enhance safety or improve academic …

There are 13,000 manufacturing jobs available in Connecticut. (Pexels/pixabay)

Retirees Needed to Train New Generation

HARTFORD, Conn. – Manufacturing is booming in Connecticut and retirees with experience in a variety of fields are needed to become teachers or …

More that 750,000 people with disabilities are incarcerated in the United States. (USA-Reiseblogger/pixabay)

Criminal Justice Reform Benefits People with Disabilities

HARTFORD, Conn. – The criminal justice reform bill making its way through Congress will help thousands of people with disabilities re-enter …

Though Latinos are 25 percent of the student population in Connecticut, only 4 percent of teachers in the state are Latino. (pxhere)

Study Finds Vast Divide for CT Latino Students

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Connecticut's 130,000 Latino students often face policies that put them at a disadvantage, according to a new report…

Reading proficiency for Connecticut fourth-grade students has improved, but math proficiency for eighth graders declined. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

CT Ranks High for Children’s Well-Being, but Census Change Raises Concerns

HARTFORD, Conn. – The latest figures on the well-being of children show Connecticut ranks seventh in the nation, but children's advocates fear …

As many as 1 in 10 current or recent college students face homelessness as they juggle student debt and living expenses, research shows. (nikolayhg/Pixabay)

Working to End Poverty Among College Students

HARTFORD, Conn. – Studying while hungry – many college students struggle to get enough to eat because they lack money to buy food…

The young people known as Dreamers will be able to apply for financial aid to Connecticut public colleges starting in January 2020. (ihsanadity/Pixabay)

CT to Offer Financial Aid to “Dreamers”

HARTFORD, Conn. – "Dreamers" will soon be able to receive institutional financial aid to attend Connecticut's public colleges and universities…

Student achievement gaps between rich and poor school districts in Connecticut are among the largest in the nation. (markusspiske/Pixabay)

State Supreme Court Hears School Funding Suit

HARTFORD, Conn. – A lawsuit challenging Connecticut's public education funding system goes before the state Supreme Court Thursday. The suit …

Inequitable school funding has contributed to growing racial disparities in income. (StockSnap/Pixabay)

CT Working Families Being Left Behind

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut is creating more low-wage jobs while more money flows to top earners - those are the findings of a new report…

The report found schools in every state across the country face flood risks. (Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA)

Report Identifies Flood Risks to CT Schools

HARTFORD, Conn. – Public schools in every state, including Connecticut, are at risk of damage from floods, according to a new report. The Pew …

Connecticut ranks first among the states for 3- and 4-year-olds in early-childhood education. (USDA)

Report Shows Well-Being of CT Children Rising

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut is in the top 10 states for the overall well-being of its children, but there still are reasons to be concerned…

Budgets proposed by Gov. Dannel Malloy and state legislators all cut spending on children's programs and services to record lows. (Dannel Malloy/Flickr)

Analysis Says CT Budget Proposals Hurt Kids

HARTFORD, Conn. – An analysis of four proposed state budgets finds they all would cut critical spending on programs for children to record lows …

A new report says investing in education and infrastructure attracts businesses. (Andrew Gusciora/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Connecticut Needs to Invest, Not Cut

HARTFORD, Conn. – A new report suggests Connecticut's quality of life and business environment are better than state leaders appear to believe…

The median debt for graduates of four-year, for-profit colleges in Connecticut is more than $28,000. (Michael Fleshman/Flickr)

For-Profit Colleges: Low Graduation Rates, High Student Debt

HARTFORD, Conn. – Most students who enroll in for-profit colleges in Connecticut don't graduate, and those who do are deeper in debt, according …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 24 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast - September 20, 2024

2024Talks - September 20, 2024

The Yonder Report - September 19, 2024

CT: Education