Malloy says budget boosts Conn. school funding

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says his new state budget proposal will increase the major state grant for local education, targeting much of the additional money to some of the state's more troubled school districts.

Joined by leaders of the state's two teachers' unions and his state education commissioner, the Democratic governor said his plan dedicates an additional $152 million over two years to the Education Cost Sharing grant, affecting 117 cities and towns.

Malloy is scheduled to unveil his full, two-year budget, which is expected to be roughly $40 billion, on Wednesday before a joint session of the General Assembly. He would not say whether other local grants will be reduced to cover the ECS increase.

A state education funding task force recently recommended increasing state spending on ECS.