February 1, 2021

Representative Nuccio Supports New Federal Relief for Local Schools

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HARTFORD — State Representative Tammy Nuccio (R-53) applauded Friday’s announcement of new federal relief for the nation’s public schools. A second phase of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) funding was made available to schools across Connecticut and the nation to bolster school safety, prevent learning loss, and help relieve the pandemic’s mental health impact on students.

Nuccio said that, while she appreciates the investment from Washington, the state legislature still needs to act on recommendations by House Republicans to address the root of the learning loss experienced by students this year. “I’m hopeful this helps put us back on our way to reopening our schools, but I know that funding alone will not prevent further learning loss. We need minimum grading and attendance standards for virtual learning or a safe return to in-person learning, or both. But I’m thankful that this at least gives school districts the opportunity to address those learning disruptions by way of an extended school year or through summer classes,” Rep. Nuccio said.

The school districts of Ashford, Tolland, and Willington all will receive additional funding under the program. Ashford will receive $229,959, Tolland will receive $203,519, and Willington will receive $268,525 in ESSER II funds.

Superintendents across the state were notified on Friday by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) of an additional $492,426,458 in available aid for Connecticut under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) signed into law in December. The funding can be used by school districts for the following purposes:

Addressing learning loss based on student need and background through targeted assessment;
Purchasing additional PPE and upgrading ventilation systems where necessary;
And planning and implementing supplemental instruction like summer school or aftercare.

This newest allocation brings the state’s total ESSER funding to date to $603,494,517.

Earlier in January, Nuccio and her Republican colleagues in the House announced a series of priorities for addressing in-person learning, including:

Uniform minimum requirements for online classroom participation;
A requirement that virtual settings feature the same amount of teacher instruction time as classroom settings;
Minimum grading standards for classwork;
Teacher training in remote/distance learning;
And in-person instruction for special needs students unless the school can demonstrate that their educational requirements can be met through distance learning.

Nuccio says she hopes her Democratic colleagues will join with her and House Republicans to work to pass those recommendations into law, but she says the ultimate end goal still needs to be the state’s return to safe, in-person learning. “I ask the Governor and my colleagues to make these recommendations a priority as we work to make the state’s education policies work for all,” Nuccio concluded.

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