Connecticut’s State Board of Education on Wednesday approved an intervention into the Bridgeport Public School district, which has been plagued by leadership issues and faces tens of millions of dollars in budget shortfalls.
The intervention proposal, which was approved unanimously by the state board, authorizes Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker to address the stability of operations in the district, to improve student performance, particularly for students receiving special education services, and to address other needs deemed necessary in the district.
The interventions include, but are not limited to:
- assigning a technical assistance team to work in, and with, the the district to guide initiatives and report to the commissioner;
- requiring the Bridgeport school board to undergo training designed to improve the board’s operational efficiency and effectiveness;
- requiring the potential appointment of a district improvement officer selected by the commissioner for a term of up to one year, and;
- requiring the prior approval by the Commissioner of any proposed permanent superintendent of schools.
The seven-page proposal acknowledges that the district’s new leadership is willing to take appropriate action to address challenges, including a long list of concerns presented by the Bridgeport Education Association in September 2024. However, the state describes “a need for urgent action” that resulted in the intervention.
“BPS is home to 19,591 students, of whom 16,887 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch,” the proposal stated. “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. In addition to the students’ needs, consideration must also be given to the approximate 2,800 BPS educators and school staff.”
Russell-Tucker said that the action by the state is a pivotal moment in ensuring that all students attending Bridgeport schools have the opportunity to succeed in learning, life, and work beyond school.
“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,” she said.
Dr. Royce Avery, the interim superintendent of schools who took over after former Superintendent Carmela Levy-Davis left the district, welcomed the state’s intervention proposal.
“The State Board’s approval of support measures, including training for Bridgeport Board of Education members, a technical assistance team, and a collaborative process for approving a permanent superintendent, will strengthen our efforts and ensure we stay aligned,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with the commissioner, the state board, the Bridgeport Board of Education, and all stakeholders to ensure every student in our district has access to a high-quality education and the opportunities they deserve.”
State Sens. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, D-Trumbull, and Herron Gaston, D-Bridgeport, released a joint statement calling on the state to work together with the Bridgeport school board and administration to provide adequate funding and appropriate guidance to create a stronger and more financially stable path forward for Bridgeport students.
“Our local Board of Education is a group of dedicated public servants who are members of their community and are intimately familiar with the needs of the students, teachers, parents, and school staff,” they said. “The challenges faced by Bridgeport schools is not the failing of a Board of Education, administration or students – it is the result of a district that has historically been underfunded and overburdened.”
The saga which culminated in the state’s intervention proposal had been simmering since at least September, when teachers, parents, and school board members rallied at Bridgeport City Hall to demand that Superintendent Levy-Davis address 65 concerns listed by more than 500 teachers about the opening of the school year, including a lack of working technology for both staff and students, few trained medical staff on-site at schools, not enough desks or other supplies for students, as well as concerns about a lack of professional support staff.
In October, the Bridgeport and Connecticut Education Associations released the results of a survey that found that 97% of the nearly 600 participants had no confidence in Levy-Davis’ ability to manage the school district effectively.
By Dec. 12, Levy-Davis was out, but the district’s problems still remained.
The Center for Children’s Advocacy sent a letter to the Bridgeport school board stating that the district was violating the rights of its students, pointing to staffing shortages, particularly in the areas of special education teachers and paraeducators, which led to student’s individualized learning programs (IEPs) not being implemented.
In addition, the letter alleged that the district predetermined the outcomes of Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings for students by instructing staff that no recommendations requiring resource expenditure could be made.