Adequate funding, as well as socioeconomic status play a large role in closing the achievement gap. Connecticut’s Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) formula was challenged in the courts in 2005 with CCJEF v. Rell. In 2016, a judge ruled the funding formula irrational and ordered the state to reform its policies. In 2018, the State Supreme Court overturned the ruling in a controversial 4-3 decision, saying reform should be left to the political process. Despite being the sixth largest city in the state and having ~ 60% students eligible for free and reduced lunch and ~ 18% English Language Learners, Norwalk receives ONLY 10% funding from the state. The 2020-21 school budget of $208.4M is funded 90% through local property taxes. As of June, 2020 Norwalk’s enrollment had grown to 11,912.
The two charts below provide comparison snapshots of Norwalk’s state funding on a per student basis: 1) compared to the five largest school districts in the state, who take the lions share: Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury and 2) comparable districts in our Demographic Reference Group (DRG.) Both tables highlight the ridiculous financial funding disparity, when taking into account: total enrollment, English Language Learners and Free and Reduced Lunch student percentages. Historical data is from October, 2017.
These ECS numbers were taken from the Connecticut School Finance Project Report: Analysis of FY18 Funding and FY19 Supplemental Funding (Senate Bill 543.)
ECS Comparison 6 Largest Cities in CT
| City | Enroll | ELL | FRL | FY18ECS | Per Student | FY19 Sup |
| Bridgeport | 20,896 | 16.5% | 57.2% | $180.8M | $8,655 | $1.4M |
| Hartford | 20,142 | 18.9% | 73.5% | $200.2M | $9,942 | $1.9M |
| N. Haven | 21,518 | 15.9% | 55.4% | $154.0M | $7,159 | $1.2M |
| NORWALK | 11,573 | 15.4% | 51.5% | $11.0M | $954 | $380K |
| Stamford | 15,931 | 13.2% | 52% | $10.5M | $662 | $685K |
| Waterbury | 19,007 | 13.8% | 71.8% | $133.3M | $7,016 | $2.7M |
Comparison of Norwalk DRG
District Reference Group(s) or DRGs is a classification system where the State Department of Education (SDE) groups districts that have public school students with similar socioeconomic status and needs. According to the SDE, grouping like districts is useful to make legitimate comparisons among districts. Variables include income, education, occupation, family structure, poverty, home language and district enrollment.
| Town | Enroll. | ELL | FRL | FY18ECS | Per Student | FY19 Supp. |
| Ansonia | 2,304 | 4% | 68% | $16.4M | $7,127 | $301K |
| Danbury | 11,483 | 26% | 58% | $31M | 2,706 | $1.2M |
| Derby | 1,370 | 3% | 64% | $7.8M | $5,735 | $226K |
| E. Hartford | 6,869 | 10% | 70% | $48.8M | $7,109 | $1.1M |
| Meriden | 7,933 | 15% | 73% | $60M | $7,564 | $901K |
| NORWALK | 11,573 | 15.4% | 51.5% | $11M | $954 | $380K |
| Norwich | 3,595 | 17% | 75% | $35.9M | $10,002 | $759K |
| Stamford | 15,931 | 13.2% | 52% | $10.5M | $662 | $685K |
| W. Haven | 5,786 | 13% | 66% | $44.8M | $7,759 | $893K |
Data Source Websites:
Department of Education www.edsight.ct.gov
Connecticut School Finance: http://.org/ecs-formula
Search for: Designed by Atanas Yonkov || Powered by WordPress