Ganim, School Chief: State Must Meet Urgency Of School Funding

Joint statement from Mayor Joe Ganim and interim Superintendent of Schools Royce Avery:

In response to the Connecticut General Assembly Appropriations Committee’s proposed state budget, Mayor Joseph Ganim and Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery released the following joint statement:

“We are encouraged to see increased attention given to special education funding in the proposed budget. But the scope of the challenge facing our public schools requires more than incremental changes. We need a state-level commitment that meets the urgency of the moment.

Bridgeport students face significant and growing needs—over 50 percent of our student population are English learners or require special education services. These children deserve the same opportunities as their peers across Connecticut, yet the state’s current funding structure continues to fall short of meeting their needs.

Across Connecticut, school districts—large and small, urban and suburban—are facing severe financial strain. From
Stamford
to Hartford,
from Milford
to Meriden,
from Hamden
to East
Hampton and beyond, communities are being forced to make painful decisions that put student learning and staff stability at risk. That’s a clear sign that something is fundamentally flawed in the way our state funds public education.

The Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula has not kept pace with the real costs of educating today’s students. It also fails to fully account for the additional support needed for students living in poverty, multilingual learners, and those with disabilities. At the same time, operational costs for schools—such as staffing, transportation, and services—continue to rise each year.

Like many districts across the state, Bridgeport is now facing an unprecedented budget shortfall—$67.8 million for Fiscal Year 2026. This shortfall risks forcing the elimination of critical programs, increased class sizes, and reductions in the support staff who are essential to student success. These decisions have real consequences for our students, families, and the long-term future of our city.

At a time when Connecticut is experiencing record surpluses and has more than $4 billion in reserves, the question is no longer about what we can afford—it’s about what we choose to prioritize. If we want thriving communities, a strong workforce, and safe, successful schools, we must fully and fairly invest in public education.

Bridgeport’s students deserve safe learning environments, well-supported educators, and access to the programs and services that give them the tools to succeed. Our children cannot and should not be left behind simply because they live in a city with fewer local resources.

We urge Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Legislature to seize this moment to move beyond short-term patches and commit to long-term, sustainable solutions that ensure every child in every community has the opportunity to succeed.

Joseph P. Ganim

Mayor, City of Bridgeport

Dr. Royce Avery

Interim Superintendent, Bridgeport Public Schools