A proposal calling for development of a more equitable Education Cost Sharing formula received a public hearing yesterday. 

Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding President Herb Rosenthal, a Newtown Selectman, called for an education adequacy cost study.  He says that is a necessary prerequisite to developing a rational and constitutional education finance system in Connecticut.

Unlike the arbitrary, budget-driven efforts of the past and present, this study would provide real world data on student needs and what resources are necessary to meet the state constitutional responsibility to deliver an equitable education opportunity for every K-12 public school student in Connecticut.

Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra noted that her town received more than $5 million this fiscal year.  In Fiscal Year 2018, Newtown is proposed to received $969,688 in ECS fund, a more than $4 million difference.  Llodra said everyone should pay their fair share and no one should benefit greater than his or her neighbor, according to his or her needs.

Danbury school officials have said the district is underfunded by about 50-percent.