CT school funding gaps persist despite decades of reform
Despite 30 years of court-ordered reforms, Connecticut students in wealthy districts still receive significantly more resources than peers in low-income communities.
Connecticut students in wealthy districts continue to receive significantly more educational resources than their peers in low-income communities, despite 30 years of court-ordered funding reforms.
The achievement gap between districts like Greenwich and Bridgeport remains stark, with per-pupil spending differences of thousands of dollars annually. Greenwich spent $19,277 per student in 2023, while Bridgeport allocated $16,891, according to state Department of Education data.
“We’ve made progress, but ZIP code still determines too much about a child’s educational opportunities,” said Sarah Martinez, executive director of the Connecticut School Finance Project. “The promise of equal opportunity remains unfulfilled.”
The disparities trace back to Connecticut’s heavy reliance on local property taxes to fund schools. Towns along the Gold Coast benefit from high property values, while cities like Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury struggle with smaller tax bases and higher concentrations of students requiring additional services.
State lawmakers have attempted multiple reforms since the 1977 Horton v. Meskill Supreme Court decision, which ruled Connecticut’s school funding system unconstitutional. The Education Cost Sharing formula, revised several times, aims to provide more state aid to high-need districts.
But critics argue the formula remains inadequate. Bridgeport receives 78% of its education funding from the state, compared to just 2% in Darien. Even with that assistance, resource gaps persist.
“The state has never fully funded its own formula,” said Rep. Bobby Sanchez, D-New Haven, who serves on the Education Committee. “We’re shortchanging students in our cities.”
Republican lawmakers counter that Connecticut already spends more per pupil than most states. They point to management issues in some districts as contributing factors.
“Throwing more money at the problem hasn’t worked,” said Rep. Tom Moore, R-Norwalk. “We need accountability and better oversight of how funds are used.”
Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration has proposed additional funding increases for high-need districts in the upcoming budget cycle. The General Assembly will debate those proposals when the legislative session begins in February.