Government should do what it can to encourage everyone to continue their education. Lifelong learning is one of the survival tools of the new world economy. To encourage more students to seek a college education, I am renewing my call this year for new tax credits aimed at average working families. Over the last five years we have taken important steps together in the never-ending effort to improve education in Connecticut. This budget builds on our success by increasing funding for charter and magnet schools and expanding weekend and summer school programs.
School choice increases competition and raises expectations.
But we need to do more, to provide working families the same kind of choices others have. This modest tax break will help many parents bridge the gap that prevents them from choosing where their children go to school. Already, that investment is paying off by attracting researchers from across the country and spinning off new businesses. At the same time, a variety of economic pressures are putting a strain on the John Dempsey Hospital. The hospital has long been part of the Farmington Valley community.