Robert Cotto, M.Ed. A free, equal public education is the right
of every child. A quality public education system should provide
a well-rounded, balanced curriculum and help prepare children
for their adult lives. While Connecticut has a strong public
education system, we need better ways to assess our children’s
learning and the work that schools perform. This brief for
electoral candidates makes several recommendations to improve
and broaden educational opportunities: - Public education should
support a broad set of goals for children’s development and
well-being. The state’s educational system should continue to
provide a broad educational program that serves all children’s
learning and developmental needs including academic skills,
critical thinking, the arts and literature, preparation for
skilled work, social skills, citizenship, and emotional health.
- Use a variety of methods and indicators, in addition to
standardized tests, to assess whether children receive a quality
education. - Require schools to