2026 CT Legislative Session: What Passed and What Failed on Education
The Connecticut General Assembly wrapped its 2026 session with roughly $200 million in new education funding, a universal school breakfast program, and a statewide literacy coaching network. Here's what passed, and what didn't.
The Session in Brief
The Connecticut General Assembly concluded its 2026 session in early May. Education was a central area of activity. Facing warnings from school districts across the state about potential cuts to staff and programming, the legislature responded with a significant funding increase.
Here is a summary of what passed and what failed.
What Passed
Education funding increase. The legislature approved roughly $200 million in new education spending, covering a range of programs and addressing district-level shortfalls that had threatened layoffs and program cuts in several communities.
Universal free school breakfast. The state budget includes $12 million to launch a universal free school breakfast program for Connecticut public schools. Free breakfast is consistently linked in research to improved attendance, attention, and academic performance, particularly for low-income students.
Statewide literacy coaching network. Funding was included to create a network of literacy coaches supporting kindergarten through third grade teachers across the state. Early literacy is foundational to all academic learning, including STEM subjects, and Connecticut's recent data shows 4th grade reading proficiency declining.
Educator protections. HB 5003 standardizes serious disciplinary and termination processes for educators, ensuring decisions are based on documented facts. Separate legislation clarifies that districts must provide full workers' compensation coverage for teachers injured by students on the job.
Homeschool regulations. A new bill requires parents to apply for homeschool approval annually and undergo a background check. Parents with active DCF cases or who appear on the abuse registry are not eligible to homeschool.
Schools as protected areas. Connecticut designated school grounds as protected areas where law enforcement may not take individuals into custody, making it one of the first states to codify this protection.
Graduate education financing. In response to the federal elimination of Grad Plus loans, the state created a graduate school financing program specifically for educators pursuing advanced degrees.
What Failed
Statewide cellphone ban. A proposal for a "bell-to-bell" ban on student smart device use in schools did not pass this session. Several other states, including New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, have adopted similar policies.
Student teacher stipends. A bill to provide stipends for student teachers, intended to make entering the teaching profession more financially viable, also failed.