HARTFORD, CT — Superintendents from across the state gathered at the Connecticut Science Center this week to kick off a school year marked with uncertainty from the federal level.
The theme of the meeting, which was hosted by the state Department of Education, was unlocking the potential of every student.
Gov. Ned Lamont touted Connecticut’s schools as the best in the country. He pointed to the success of programs like the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP), which he credited with decreasing chronic absenteeism in the state.
Lamont said educators are facing challenges from the Trump administration. While no students have been seized by federal authorities at school, earlier this year an 18 year old high school student was seized at work by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“ICE is not making our lives any easier,” Lamont said.
He also referred to federal attacks on transgender students. Three school districts in the state have been notified by the federal Department of Education that they are under federal investigation for allowing transgender athletes to compete in sports programs.
“The day after Donald Trump was elected, the first thing I said was, I want our kids to know they can come back to school,” Lamont said. “I want them to know they can be in school safely. And that includes especially our Hispanic kids and our trans kids.”
Bethel Superintendent Christine Carver addresses the Back-to-School Superintendent meeting at the Connecticut Science Center on Sept, 9 2025. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie
Christine Carver, superintendent of Bethel Public Schools and the 2025 superintendent of the year for the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, told the educators that their task was to start thinking about how to prepare students for an uncertain work future.
“One of the most complex things that we’re going to have to face as a state in education in the next few years is the fact that we are preparing students for jobs that don’t (yet) exist,” said Carver. “How do we stay relevant, and how do we create that workforce connection in the way that we’re going to need in a much more meaningful way than we ever have in the past?”
Also at the meeting, Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said last year, for the first time in a decade, Connecticut saw improvement in state assessment test scores across every grade, every subject, and every learner group. Additionally, last year was the third consecutive year of statewide attendance improvement, equaling 34,000 more students being regularly present in schools.
“These results are the wind beneath our sails, propelling us forward with hope and with confidence,” she said. “They tell us that your hard work, the dedication of our educators, local school boards and communities, and smart investments are working and making a difference.
They remind us that progress is possible, even yes, during challenging times, when we stay the course and unlock the lifelong potential of all our students.”
State Blue Ribbon Program
Lamont also announced the establishment of the Connecticut Blue Ribbon Schools Program. The move comes in response to the Trump administration’s decision to abruptly end the four decade-old program last week. The program honors high-performing schools and schools that have successfully narrowed academic gaps between student groups.
The four inaugural schools for the program are House of Arts, Letters, and Science (HALS) Academy in New Britain; Gildersleeve School in Portland; Green Acres Elementary School in North Haven; and Weston Intermediate School in Weston. All four schools had been nominated by DOE for the national award before the program was ended.