Education Committee Hearing Monday March 15

The Education Committee will hold a public hearing this Monday, March 15 at 3: 30 P. M. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. It will include testimony regarding
House Bill #5489: An Act Concerning Secondary School Reform

HB 5489 contains the secondary school reform language including one full graduation credit in the fine arts that CMEA and other state arts organizations supported during last years’ legislative session only to see the whole reform package fail during the final minutes of the session.

This bill is different in that the implementation the reform package will be tied to federal Race To The Top Funds. Such districts who receive these funds will be required to implement the new requirements. Over 100 districts have already shown interest in this funding. While this may not be as ideal as mandating an arts requirement for all districts it is our best option during this economic and state budget climate.

There are two ways that you can help.

1. Testify in person
The hearing begins at 3:30 p.m with the first hour of the hearing reserved for Elected Officials. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes of testimony. Sign-up to give testimony in person will begin at 12: 00 P. M. in the First Floor Atrium of the LOB, will be conducted by lottery, and will conclude at 1: 00 P. M.
If you would like to testify but can not be present for the sign-up, please let us know immediately by email at cmea.advocacy@att.net and we will sign your name in.
Please include in your email, and email address and a phone number that you can be reached at on Monday.
Please also submit a copy of your testimony to the email address below.

OR

2. Submit written testimony
Email a PDF attachment of your written testimony to chris.calabrese@cga.ct.gov by 10: 00 A. M. Monday March 15 and include the word "TESTIMONY" in the subject line.
You may submit written testimony even if you can not make the hearing.

Points to include in either testimony:

 Support a comprehensive secondary school reform package developed by the SDE

 The value of an education that includes the fine arts

 Support the proposed graduation Fine Arts requirement.

 Any school reform legislation should be designed in a way to ensure that students are able to sustain 4 years of study in each of the six core academic areas as defined by the College Board and federal legislation, i.e.: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, and the Fine Arts.

Be brief and to the point. Advocate for Arts Education but not against other areas.

Entire Bill is posted below.

CT State University System Requires HS Arts Study For Admission

Beginning in 7/1/15, students must complete 1 credit of study in the arts for admission to the four universities in the Connecticut State University system. This is part of the CSU system’s efforts to align its entrance requirements with Connecticut’s proposed new high school graduation requirements, which also include a full credit in the arts. The state board of education had voted in the fall of 2008 to support such graduation requirements however they have not yet been legislated. It is expected that there will be a bill introduced containing the recommended high school graduation requirements at some point during regular legislative session.

CSU amended admission requirement document is posted below.