As part of the online annual meeting held last month, CIAC member principals were asked to vote on one proposed change to the CIAC Bylaws. The change, which modifies the language used in the Penalties section of the CIAC Recruitment Regulation, was passed unanimously (with one abstention) by the membership. Click here to view the change to Section G, Article X as well as the rationale behind it.

In lieu of our annual CAS Summer Leadership Institute which was impacted by Mother Nature, we are moving this event to mid-September to continue our leadership work in the area of social-emotional support. A new institute format and pricing structure should bring this experience within financial reach of our member school administrators. Supporting our students in the area of social-emotional health is one of the topics most requested by our membership. Join us on September 21st as we examine the impact of leadership in this vital area.

Are you aware of all of the programs and services that the association provides? Do you ever wonder what your central office staff members do in any given year? Here are two ways to find out! Review the annual reports published by each of the association’s six divisions. Or, watch this 27-minute video to get a glimpse of all of the events and activities that CAS sponsored during the 2017-2018 year!

CAS is pleased to report that the motion to override the Governor's veto of Public Act 18-89, An Act Concerning Classroom Safety and Disruptive Behavior, failed. While developed with the intent to support students and classroom safety, the basic logistics of the law placed an overwhelming and unnecessary burden on administrators. Many thanks to the members who responded to our call to action and helped bring about this important outcome!

CAS’ first-ever Women in Leadership Conference, which was postponed this winter due to weather, has been rescheduled to the fall. Join us on October 25th for a unique opportunity to hear and discuss the path to leadership of a number of successful women leaders in Connecticut’s education community. Their style of leadership, impediments and issues faced on their journeys, and mentors and motivators along the way will be discussed. There will be time for Q/A as well as small break-out sessions to explore ways in which schools can grow and develop leadership in young women.

The esteemed panelists will include, among others: Dr. Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director-Elect of the National Federation of State High School Associations; Dr. Gladis Kersaint, Dean of UCONN’s Neag School of Education; Dr. Penelope Lisi, Professor in CCSU’s Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Instructional Technology; Dr. Suzi D’Annolfo, Retired Administrator and Past Milken National Educator Award Recipient; and, Dr. Bonnie Edmondson, School Health Education Program Coordinator at SCSU and former CSDE Education Consultant. Mark your calendars. Registration will be open in September.

Connecticut’s middle and high schools are encouraged to participate in the FOX 61 Student News program! This nationally recognized, award winning, educational partnership engages students in real world learning experiences as they showcase the excellent initiatives and activities happening in their schools. FOX 61 provides students with professional guidance and hands-on instruction in reporting and producing their own news stories. As part of the program, schools are given access to software to assist with production and distribution of stories while teachers receive on-going support and attend bi-annual training workshops.

Last month, the General Assembly restored $1.5 million in funding for the implementation of the Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) program at the local level. Going forward, funds will be allocated directly to districts via grants from the CSDE based on student population in the district. The funds will be distributed in the fall and may be used to offset the cost of new teacher induction in the following areas:

1. Mentor stipends 
2. Data system 
3. Mentor/cooperating teacher training 
4. Professional development for mentors and beginning teachers

Click here for a 2018-19 TEAM program fact sheet.

Are you interested in improving educational outcomes for English learners in your district? Would you like to help more students in your district attain the Seal of Biliteracy? Dual Language Education is an approach that can help you accomplish both objectives. Join us July 31 at UConn’s picturesque School of Law campus in Hartford for the first annual Connecticut Dual Language Symposium — a half-day symposium designed to celebrate the successes of existing dual language programs, brainstorm challenges and solutions for expanding dual language education in the state, and promote awareness of resources to support dual language program implementation. This event is hosted by the Neag School of Education at UConn, MABE, and DuLCE. For details and registration information, click here.

Last month, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley released its Early Childhood Workforce Index for 2018. The index provides a composite appraisal of the early childhood workforce in each state by looking at earnings and economic security; early childhood workforce policies; and family and income support policies. This year’s report includes the following findings:

• Seventy-four percent of children live in households where all available parents are currently working.
• The median wage for child care workers in CT in 2017 was $11.87, a 7% increase since 2015.
• The median wage for preschool teachers in CT in 2017 was $16.58, a 6% increase since 2015.
• According to figures from the Economic Policy Institute, CT is ranked 6th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia for most expensive infant care. The average annual cost of infant care in Connecticut is $13,880—that’s $1,157 per month.

Click here to view Connecticut’s full profile.