CT Dept of Education

Congratulations to the CT Association of School Librarians (@ctcasl) on being named the @AASL Chapter of the Year Award winner; an incredible recognition of their leadership and unwavering commitment to students & school libraries across CT. This national honor highlights the essential role school librarians play in fostering literacy, curiosity, and lifelong learning for every student. Learn more about this well-deserved recognition: ala.org/news/2026/03/c… The celebration continues during National Library Week with two special author events: -Friday, April 17, 2026, 10:30 a.m. -Russell Public Library -Meet Barbara McClintock, author of Three Little Kittens -Monday, April 20, 2026, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (Rain date: April 27) -Bushnell Park Carousel (Function Room) -Meet Priya Gupta, author of Yayyyy! It’s Monday From national recognition to community celebration, Connecticut’s school librarians continue to inspire a love of reading and learning in every corner of our state.

Did you know? CT high school students are bringing STEM to life—taking on a global wildlife crisis having already achieved patent-pending status for their invention. Selected as 1 of 8 teams nationwide for MIT’s InvenTeams program, students from Berlin have developed real-world solutions to protect bat populations and combat White-Nose Syndrome. Last week, they presented their work to Commissioner @CharleneRTedu and the State Board of Education, which you can watch here: youtube.com/live/QHBza6G6T… As one Board member shared, their curiosity, perseverance, and ability to communicate complex ideas is “truly impressive," and a powerful example of how students are building real-world skills and exploring future career pathways through hands-on learning.

Read more: k12dive.com/news/education…

Today, the CT State Board of Education recognized the extraordinary impact of paraprofessionals across our state in honor of National Paraprofessional Appreciation Day. We were proud to celebrate the 2026 Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year, Vanessa Taylor of Putnam Public Schools, along with outstanding finalists and semifinalists who represent the very best of this profession: • Danielle Franklin (Windsor Public Schools) • Kimberly Fahy (Groton Public Schools) • Cynthia Salas (New London Public Schools) • Jillian Grieco (Meriden Public Schools) During the meeting, the State Board and Commissioner @CharleneRTedu formally presented a proclamation in support of National Paraeduactor Day recognizing paraprofessionals statewide for their essential role in supporting students, families, and school communities. Honorees also received a commemorative token of appreciation from the Board.

Families and caregivers, we invite you to participate in the Comprehensive Literacy Landscape Survey to help deepen CT's understanding of its Birth–Grade 12 literacy landscape. Learn more at tinyurl.com/28j79yj7

We’re excited to share a fun and meaningful opportunity for students and families to celebrate Dyslexia Awareness, while enjoying some exciting hockey! To learn more, see the below flyer or click here: acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc…

Thank you to everyone who joined yesterday’s Commissioner’s Roundtable for Family & Community Engagement in Education. This convening is an important space for families and community partners to share perspectives, elevate local experiences, and help inform statewide efforts to strengthen education for all students. Yesterday’s discussion highlighted several key areas shaping our work across Connecticut, including continued progress in student attendance, opportunities that connect students to career pathways, and the growing importance of digital literacy and impact of AI in today’s classrooms.

Congratulations to @NorwichPS for making this special night possible and for creating a joyful experience where every student feels seen and celebrated. Read more: norwichbulletin.com/story/news/loc…

This morning in Hartford, the CT State Department of Education’s inaugural Curriculum Teacher Leader Fellowship brought together more than 100 educators from across the state for a day of collaboration, learning, and leadership development focused on strengthening curriculum. Commissioner @CharleneRTedu opened the event by recognizing the collective impact of educators and emphasizing the importance of coming together to share ideas, learn from one another, and build a community of practice that extends beyond individual districts. Under the leadership of CSDE’s Academic Office, the Curriculum Teacher Leader Fellowship equips educators with the strategies and leadership skills needed to shape high-quality instructional materials and strengthen local practice. As the Commissioner noted, this work is about ensuring educators are supported, connected, and empowered so they can bring that learning back to their districts and help prepare every student for learning, life, and work beyond school.

If you hold current Connecticut Certification and are interested in adding an Adult Education endorsement, learn more at portal.ct.gov/-/media/sde/ad…

We’re excited to share a fun and meaningful opportunity for students and families to celebrate Dyslexia Awareness, while enjoying some exciting hockey! To learn more, see the below flyer or click here: acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc…

Thank you to @capssct for convening Connecticut superintendents and district leaders for today’s Spring Conference focused on Leading Transformational Learning and shaping the future of our schools. Commissioner @CharleneRTedu shared remarks grounded in purpose, partnership, and the importance of prioritizing well-being in leadership amid the complexity of today’s work. Appreciation to keynote speaker and author of Reset, Dan Heath, for insights that continue to challenge and inspire how we approach change and decision-making in education.

P-TECH Norwalk students - organized and led by junior Blerta Hoxha - made the trip to Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy to provide mental health strategies. This workshop was an intentional effort to provide tools for these Ponus student leaders to peer-teach these important strategies.

DID YOU KNOW!! Educator vacancies in CT are trending downward. From Aug. 2024 to Feb. 2026, vacancies have declined across all categories, including special ed teachers and paraeducators, and all other teachers and paraeducators, indicating improved staffing levels statewide!

@CTDCF Thank you for all that you do!

The #WSWD2026 theme ‘Co-Building Hope & Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society’, highlights the vital role of social work in bringing people together across communities, cultures, & systems to shape a more inclusive & sustainable tomorrow. #CTDCF #SocialWorkMonth

It was an honor to join more than 400 aspiring educators - middle and high school students from over 20 districts across Connecticut - today at the 6th Annual @EdRisingCT State Conference at @SCSU. Thank you to Educators Rising for organizing a wonderful event to celebrate and support the next generation of educators. This work is critical to our continued focus on expanding our educator workforce, so that every classroom has skilled, high-quality, and inspiring educators. As Commissioner @CharleneRTEdu told the students in her remarks, "Our state needs talented, passionate educators who believe in the promise of every student and to awaken the potential that every child brings into the classroom."