Source: http://ccjef.org/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 22:17:13+00:00

Document:
Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding: CCJEF | Adequate and Equitable Educational Opportunity for EVERY PreK-12 Public School Student!
The Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding [CCJEF] vowed to bring the fight to ensure that every public school student has the opportunity for an adequate and equitable education to the 2018 General Assembly Session.
The Connecticut Supreme Court has denied CCJEF’s MOTION for reconsideration of the Court’s narrow 4-3 decision in the historic CCJEF v. Rell education adequacy and equity case.
“The Connecticut Supreme Court majority decided to turn a deaf ear to the cries of thousands of public schoolchildren denied an adequate and equitable educational opportunity in our state”, said James J. Finley, Principal Consultant to CCJEF.
“While the Connecticut Supreme Court has decided that there is no legal imperative to correct this deprivation of educational opportunity, CCJEF declares there is a moral imperative to do so,” said Finley.
“For over twelve years CCJEF has been battling in the Connecticut courts to ensure that every K-12 public school student in our state has the opportunity to receive their constitutionally-guaranteed right to an adequate and equitable education,” Finley explained. “The 1060 findings of fact and other evidence presented by CCJEF and accepted by the trial court clearly show that the state constitutional rights of many of our public school students have been denied. In the face of judicial indifference, CCJEF’s effort to ensure education adequacy and equity will now focus on the legislative and executive branches of state government.” Finley concluded.
CCJEF will keep you apprised of further efforts to ensure education adequacy and equity for all in our state.
The Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding [CCJEF] today expressed deep disappointment with the adverse 4-3 Connecticut Supreme Court decision released today in the CCJEF v. Rell education equity and adequacy case.
“The Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding will pursue all legal remedies to have the Connecticut Supreme Court decision in the historic CCJEF v. Rell case reconsidered and overturned.”, said James J. Finley, Principal Consultant to CCJEF.
“The Connecticut Supreme Court was closely divide by a 4-3 margin against a new trial that would have clarified many of the still disputed and unresolved issues of the case. CCJEF believes a case of this landmark magnitude should not be left dangling on such a close vote but requires instead the kind of clarity for the future of the State’s educational system that only a new trial and a definitive majority can establish.”, added Finley.
The CCJEF legal team is continuing to analyze the Connecticut Supreme Court decision. CCJEF expects to file a motion for reconsideration of the decision with the court.
CCJEF will keep you apprised of further legal developments in the historic CCJEF v. Rell education adequacy and equity case.
CCJEF v. RELL: KEY ELEMENTS OF CT EDUCATION SYSTEM FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!
“This is a landmark victory for Connecticut’s public school students. The Court’s decision will have a significant impact on educational funding and opportunities in Connecticut, and potential ramifications in educational jurisprudence across the country,” said Herbert C. Rosenthal, President of the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding [CCJEF].
“This case was brought to ensure that all Connecticut students receive adequate and equitable educational opportunities. With this decision, we are on the path to see that goal realized,” said James J. Finley, Principal Consultant to CCJEF and an expert witness in the case.
“These proceedings have shown how school districts in Connecticut, particularly high-poverty school districts, have been getting short-changed. Today’s decision marks the first step toward ensuring all students have meaningful opportunities to become college- and career-ready,” said Rosenthal.
“Today’s decision is the culmination of an extensive trial that took place over six months and involved testimony from more than 50 witnesses. At the end of the day, CCJEF believes the evidence was overwhelming, and the court’s careful consideration of that evidence confirms it was,” continued Rosenthal.
“Now that the court has found that key elements of the existing education system are unconstitutional, it must begin the all-important task of constructing specific remedies to address the system’s inadequacies. CCJEF, as befits our unique role as plaintiff, looks forward to taking a lead role in moving that process forward quickly in order to fix Connecticut’s educational funding system and eliminate the achievement gaps,” said Finley.
“Our only regret today is that CCJEF’s founder and long-time Project Director, Dr. Dianne Kaplan deVries, did not live long enough to see this day. It was because of Dianne’s vision and tenacity that Connecticut public school children finally got their day in court,” said Rosenthal.
CCJEF called 34 witnesses during our case-in-chief while the State called 18 witnesses. There were 61 days in court. Click on this “CURRENT CASE DETAILS” link for the final briefs and findings of fact filed by the parties and for the most up-to-date information on any new developments in the historic CCJEF v. Rell case.
CCJEF was ably represented by Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. The Debevoise team, which spent a year and a half in pre-trial preparation (depositions, site visits, research, etc.), was led by Attorney Joseph Moodhe with assistance from Attorney David Noland, Attorney Dustin Nofziger, and a host of other attorneys, paralegals and support staff.
Invaluable assistance was provided by Attorney Alex Knopp and the Yale Law School students and faculty, past and present, who worked on this case. Yale Law School has been with this case from the beginning.
Important assistance was also provided by Attorney David Rosen and his colleagues.
Keys to the success of this effort so far have been the dedication and leadership of the CCJEF Steering Committee, officers, members and plaintiff group.
And last, but certainly not least, thanks and gratitude for the late Dr. Dianne Kaplan deVries. Dianne — CCJEF founder, long-time project director and guiding light – is the reason CT’s schoolchildren of today and tomorrow finally got their day in court.
The Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding [CCJEF] is the largest and most diverse education reform coalition ever organized and established in our state. Don’t be fooled by well-funded PR campaigns: Accept no organizational substitutes to CCJEF — the real deal. Other so-called “reform” groups and coalitions have lately proliferated and tried to expropriate CCJEF’s message and goals to further their own narrow, special interests. CCJEF, on the other hand, has been in the trenches since 2005 working through the courts and the executive and legislative branches to achieve education adequacy and equity in CT’s failed education finance system. Our State Constitution demands no less for all our PK-12 public school students!
Click on the “CURRENT CASE DETAILS” link for the most up-to-date information on any new developments in the historic CCJEF v. Rell case.
Thanks to all for your continued support of, and interest in, the landmark CCJEF v. Rell case.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.