Connecticut school board takes action to help Bridgeport Public Schools

State Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker

HARTFORD – Bridgeport Public Schools’ current $38 million budget gap has led the state Board of Education Wednesday to authorize Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker to appoint a district improvement officer and approve the hiring of any permanent superintendent.

Those are just some of the actions the state board will take as it addresses the stability of operations in the state’s second largest school district.

Citing authority granted by Section 10-223e(e)(2) of the Connecticut general statutes, the state board took the action to improve student performance — with a focus on students receiving special education services — and address other needs in the district. The district serves more than 20,000 students in more than 30 schools.

“Today’s action by the SBE (State Board of Education) is a pivotal moment in ensuring each of the 19,591 students in the BPS (Bridgeport Public Schools) has the opportunity to succeed in learning, life, and work beyond school,” said Russell-Tucker. “By collaborating with the local Board of Education, district leaders, educators, school staff and students, and the broader community, we maximize our ability to ensure that every child has the support they need to reach their full potential.”

The intervention of the state board call for the following actions:

  • Assign a technical assistance team to work in, and with, the BPS to guide district initiatives and report to the commissioner
  • Require the Bridgeport Board of Education to undergo training designed to improve the Bridgeport board’s operational efficiency and effectiveness
  • Require potential appointment of a district improvement officer selected by the commissioner for a term of up to one year
  • Require the prior approval by the commissioner of any proposed permanent superintendent of schools.

Throughout this process, the CSDE (Connecticut State Department of Education) will regularly brief the SBE on the progress of BPS in implementing these actions, she said. SBE meetings will also provide an opportunity for parents and families, students, and members of the school community to address the Board through public testimony on this action.

In its report, the state BOE spelled out the challenges facing Bridgeport public schools.

“Based upon the data presented, there exists a number of significant challenges facing BPS. The BBE Chair and BPS Interim Superintendent, both of whom are new in their role, represent a willingness to take the appropriate action in response to the reported challenges. However, there is a need for urgent action.

“BPS is home to 19,591 students, of whom 16,887 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch,” the report states. “BPS has 3,987 students with disabilities, 5,537 English Learners/ Multilingual Learners, and 292 students experiencing homelessness. The rate of student chronic absenteeism is 29.1 percent. Only 19.9 percent of students met or exceeded performance levels in English language arts, and 12.3 percent met or exceeded performance levels in math on the Smarter Balanced Assessment.”

The SBE’s action follows a Jan. 9 presentation to the SBE’s Accountability and Support Committee by the CSDE highlighting the urgent need for intervention and support. At that meeting, BBE Chair Jennifer Perez and BPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery came before the state committee.

On Dec. 12, 2024, the BBE and BPS leadership team were invited to attend the Jan. 9, 2025, SBE committee meeting to explain how BPS plans to address the budget deficit; how BPS will fulfill its obligation to educate all students, but specifically students receiving services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and the training that members of the Bridgeport Board of Education have received in recent months.

Avery responded to the questions presented, indicating that BPS has a three-phase plan for mitigating the deficit by reducing positions, reviewing cuts to programming and contracts, and possibly closing facilities pending the result of the BPS facilities study.

In December 2024, the BPS district proposed mitigating the $38 million budget deficit by reducing staff, including 18 school-administrator positions.