For Immediate Release

Donna Hamzy Carroccia, 203-843-0705

Statement from Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO

During the pandemic, it became hyper-apparent that there was a growing divide in our schools. Kids were becoming disengaged – or worse, disconnected. But COVID only revealed a trend that had been increasing for several years, and today one in five Connecticut youth is either at-risk or already disconnected. Today, Dalio Education not only named that problem in their report, “Connecticut’s Unspoken Crisis: Getting Young People Back On Track,” but have shown our state the path forward.

 “The Dalio Education report on disconnected youth in Connecticut is a well-informed, insightful, and data-driven summary of one our state’s most pressing issues,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO.  “That nearly 120,000 children are at risk or disconnected should be an alarming wake-up call for the State.  Such young people may be found in our large cities, mid-size communities and small towns – throughout the State.  This important report’s recommendations warrant immediate discussion and analysis of action steps by stakeholders. The recommendations require the State, municipalities, Boards of Education, regions, nonprofits, community leaders and others to work cooperatively and with determination and focus to turn around a dire situation.”