Representative Ackert Advocates for Safe, In-Person Learning Environment

8^th District legislator and longtime education advocate stresses the importance of personal accountability and “high-quality virtual instruction”

COVENTRY— State Representative Tim Ackert (R-8) will be advocating for legislation that will promote a safe, in-person learning environment for all Connecticut students in the upcoming session. House Republicans announced a package of proposals earlier in the week meant to bring accountability and uniform standards to online learning.

As a life-long education advocate and teacher, Ackert insists that the in-person instruction model is irreplaceable, especially for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “But in the absence of safe, in-person instruction where students and teachers can be in a classroom together,” Ackert said, “parents should have the expectation that their kids are receiving the highest quality of virtual learning possible. Otherwise, you’re doing them a disservice.”

The state of Connecticut currently lacks clear minimum standards for remote learning.  While guidelines and recommendations are provided to municipalities, currently there are no baseline standards by which to measure class participation or teacher performance.

“Most important here I think is the difference between a child being ‘logged-in’ and that child actually being engaged,” continued Ackert, a former ranking member for the legislature’s Education Committee and a specialist in education-related issues throughout his time in the House of Representatives. “While we can point and say, ‘a high percentage of students were logged in for their virtual classes today,’ there’s a responsibility that falls to the parents and the students themselves that they are not just present but engaged.”

Ackert concluded that education is partly about preparing children for adulthood, and one of the most important life lessons a child can learn is personal accountability.

Ackert is a member of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee and represents the 8^th General Assembly District of Columbia, Coventry, Tolland, and Vernon.