I frequently write about issues that may not be directly related to minority business development, but public education is not one of those issues. Several weeks ago, I wrote about the differences in the length of the school day in China and the school day in the U.S. I also have commented on the need for radical redesign of public education. Well, I guess someone is reading and listening. I was invited to join the State of Connecticut's State Board of Education Ad Hoc Committee to Study Funding for Public School Choice Programs. My first meeting is this morning. The Committee is charged by the Commissioner of Education and the Board to look into more equitable ways to fund and distribute the almost $4 billion in state money for the education of students in Connecticut's public school choice programs, including charter schools, magnet schools, regional vocational schools , open choice programs and technical high schools. I certainly would like to hear from MBEs and our corporate members on your thoughts on these subjects. This committee is scheduled to conclude its work in December 2010 with a report and hopefully legislation that will make changes that might make our public schools more effective places where our children learn.
May 3, 2010
