Malloy's Proposed Budget Would Aid City Schools by $1.64M

Middletown Public Schools may get a significant bump of $1.64 million — 9.43 percent — in state funding over the next two years. 

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy released Tuesday the summary of proposed spending hikes allotted to each school district In Connecticut, calling for a total increase of $152 million — $50.7 million in 2013-14 and another $101.5 million in 2014-15 — toward the state’s Education Cost Sharing grants.

Malloy's budget plan would give $3,289,845 more in funds in the 2014-15 fiscal year, an 18.85 percent increase.

The ECS grants make up the largest source of state funding to schools in every Connecticut municipality, and supplement local budgets like Middletown's throughout the next fiscal year.

Middletown is one of 117 municipalities in the state that would receive a funding increase next year, according to Malloy's proposal.

We have an obligation to each and every student in our schools to provide them with a quality public education so they can compete in the 21st Century economy,” Malloy said in a news release. “By recommitting these resources, we are taking a giant step forward toward achieving that goal.”

Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman touted the importance of an education reform package passed last year as a “first step” in fixing broken aspects of Connecticut’s schools.

“This funding structure will ensure that we continue to pursue our goal of helping turn around struggling schools, allowing successful ones to keep thriving, and better preparing students to move onto high school, college, and the workforce,” Wyman said.