Source: Kevin Maloney, CCM
PRESS ADVISORY
For immediate release
Kevin Maloney (203) 7103486
CCM AND OTHER KEY EDUCATION ADVOCATES TO CONDUCT CAPITOL NEWS CONFERENCE
ON THURSDAY, APRIL 27th TO UNVEIL MONTH-LONG ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF HB 5003
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), in conjunction with the State School Finance Project, Faith Acts for Education, Educators 4 Excellence, CT Association of Boards of Education, CT Association of Public School Superintendents, CT Charter School Association and CONNCAN, will conduct a news conference at the State Capitol Building on Thursday, April 27 at 9:30 a.m to unveil a month-long advertising campaign that calls on Governor Lamont and the General Assembly to accelerate necessary funding increases for FY 2023-24 in the State’s Education Cost Sharing (ECS) Grant by implementing the proposals contained in HB 5003 before the regular state legislative session concludes on Wednesday, June 7.
The news conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the Old Appropriations Room in the State Capitol Building.
The advertisements – video and print ads -- will appear over the next 30 days on each of the state’s broadcast television stations – CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX, channels 3, 8, 30, and 61 -- as well on all major social media platforms and through widespread geo-targeted on-line ad placements. Examples of each advertisement, as well as the complete text of each spot, will be presented at the news conference.
The current state funding to pay for local public education costs does not meet the needs of Connecticut’s student population and is overly reliant on local property tax revenues. The cost of local public education in our state is now over $12.3 billion annually with local property taxpayers burdened with over 50 percent of that cost. The key to reducing this burden is to accelerate the already-scheduled phase-in of ECS grant increases for cities and towns, while holding harmless any communities who would otherwise see a decrease in aid. The ECS grant is the single largest grant annually to help local governments pay for their most expensive municipal service – local public schools.
Key speakers will include municipal CEOs and representatives of the partner organizations listed above.