Schools

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – School superintendents in Fairfield County are praising education reform proposed by Gov. Dannel Malloy to streamline the hiring of teachers even as his plan earned low marks from teacher unions across the state.

“Making the teacher certification process less burdensome is crucial to hiring teachers and administrators from out of state and is a very worthy goal,” said Fairfield Superintendent of Schools David Title. “Currently, there are far too many testing requirements that out-of state teacher candidates have to meet. It’s very ...

NORWALK, Conn. – If you'd like to send your child to Side by Side Charter School, you'll have to attend one of several upcoming open houses, according to a statement from the school.

Admissions are made through a lottery, and applications are available during open houses. Enrollment applications will be accepted for fall 2012 to fill seats in prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year olds through eighth grade.

To attend an open house, you must make a reservation. For reservations, call 203-857-0306. Open house dates are Wednesdays, as follows:

NORWALK, Conn. – A group of Norwalk teenagers weren't afraid to give their elders some advice Thursday.

"A lot of teachers feel like they don't want to invest the time with students. They just kind of pass them along," said Melissa Rojo, a Norwalk High School senior. "(They think), 'Let the next teacher deal with you.' It's not smart. It eventually catches up with the student."

Edwin Rosales, a Norwalk High junior, said, "I think besides raising the bar for students, we also have to raise the bar for our teachers."

The students were part of "Youth Forum – Mind ...

HARTFORD, Conn. – Insisting that “bold education reform” must be Connecticut’s top priority in 2012, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has directed Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor to work with the General Assembly to come up with sweeping changes for the legislative session that convenes Feb. 8. The governor has outlined six areas that need improvement. 

Criticized last year by education advocates for ignoring pleas to fix what they say is a failing system, Malloy conceded that during his first year in office he was forced to focus on balancing the budget and union ...

NORWALK, Conn. – Susan Marks says the feedback she got during her first year as superintendent of Norwalk schools was consistent: budget for what you need.

To that end Marks has proposed an operating budget for 2012-13 that is nearly 8 percent higher than this year's budget.

"Things were under budgeted last year," she said Wednesday morning in her office. "... I felt that instead of under budgeting this year, we needed to budget what we needed and then work from there."

The operating budget request Marks presented to the Board of Education is for nearly $167 ...

NORWALK, Conn. — If you're looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of shopping, the annual Poinsettia Concert at Brien McMahon High School Tuesday may provide an uplifting respite.

Involving 400 performers, a quarter of the school's student body, the evening will feature pieces by the symphony, wind ensemble, orchestra, choirs and chamber singers.

The hour-long concert, a holiday tradition at the Highland Avenue school, starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Forcellina Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for students and seniors, and are available at the door.

NORWALK, Conn. – High school students greeted shoppers at Norwalk's Connecticut Avenue Stop & Shop and handed them another shopping list for their consideration.

The members of the Brien McMahon High School Center for Youth Leadership were seeking donations. "We're doing it for day laborers and domestic violence victims," said Gillian Castro, a freshman who got into charitable work when she got to high school. "I think it's a good thing to be doing."

Shoppers were asked to buy pasta, canned soup, cereal, juice boxes, rice and/or canned beans. If they did, they gave ...