Students back education reform bill

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) --Students from 12 campuses across Connecticut held a rally at the State Capitol to support Governor Dannel P.  Malloy, and his education reform bill.

The rally was hosted by local chapters of the group Students for Education Reform, a national non-profit organization. It is affiliated with the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now or ConnCAN , a New Haven-based school reform organization and a strong proponent for charter schools.

One of the more controversial aspects of the education reform bill is changing teacher's tenures by tying them more to student performance.  It's something Michael Daley supports.

"I'm in college now because of teachers who actually put the effort and the work that was needed for me to make it in society," said University of Hartford Junior Michael Daley.

Daley went to elementary school in Hartford, but was bussed to Granby for middle school. Daley said he was far behind his fellow Granby classmates.

"I remember sitting in math class, not knowing what a prime number was in the sixth grade, never having sat in a geography class, not knowing anything about American history really," said Daley.

Some students said the disparity between poor districts and others in the state is a big factor in the importance of education reform.

"I think that we need to reform the way the education works in Connecticut, I think the fact that there's the largest education gap in Connecticut, we need to fix that," said Connecticut College Sophomore Cassie Haines.

Some students are as far as three years behind others in the state. Future teachers want to change the one in five drop out rate in Connecticut, and they want the state to make that possible for them.  Their slogan 'give us a reason to stay' says it all.

"In this time of age, higher education is what's important and that's how you're gonna get a job, and if we're not giving that foundation then there's really no way anybody can succeed," said Quinnipiac University Sophomore Abby Uzamere.

The General Assembly has until May 9, to act on the bill.