DODD, LIEBERMAN ANNOUNCE $25.7 MILLION RECOVERY ACT GRANT FOR CONNECTICUT SCHOOLS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced today that Connecticut will receive $25.7 million to turn around its persistently lowest achieving schools through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program.

The $25,748,565 made available to Connecticut is being distributed by formula to the state and will then be competed out by the state to school districts.  In order for a school district to apply for these funds, it must have a state-identified "persistently lowest achieving" or a Tier III school -- a school that has failed to meet annual yearly progress for two years and is not identified as a persistently lowest achieving school.

“At the end of the day, our most important objective is to provide a high-quality education to all of Connecticut’s students, and this funding is one resource that our state can put towards achieving that critical goal,” said Dodd. “As the Senate considers education reform this year, I will assess the administration’s policies and proposals and determine  the best ways to improve our struggling schools.”

“Every student in Connecticut deserves a first-rate education,” Lieberman said.  “These funds will help provide our underperforming schools with the resources they need so our students are given an opportunity to excel.” 

The grant is being awarded by the US Department of Education as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The money will be available to Connecticut this spring.