Malloy to kick off Conn. school reform plan

Meriden, Conn. (WTNH/AP) - Governor Dannel Malloy hit the road to try to drum up support for his multi-million dollar proposal aimed at improving the state's schools.

Governor Malloy wants to spend more state money on local schools, but not just any schools. He specifically wants to target the worst performing districts in the state. Meriden is one of them. The Governor says these are not bad school necessarily, but they could be better.

Ben Franklin Elementary is an alliance school, meaning it's part of the 30 worst school districts that Governor Malloy wants to help with more state money and new education strategies.

"The reality is we needed to put money on an intervention basis into the districts that are having the most difficulty," said Gov. Malloy.

Parents at Ben Franklin say those strategies are working but they also wouldn't say no to the extra $1.7 million the governor is proposing for the district.

"I'm happy with this school district. This is a great school," said Luis Lara. "I don't know about the rest. I know we need funds for other programs, I guess."

"They need the money to come in because right now the district's proposal is, if we don't close the gap, they're going to have to close a school," said Alice Straight.

Those are the tough choices many poorer communities face, and that's why Malloy wants to send around $40 million their way, and make some reforms in what goes on in those schools too.

"We know that there are strategies that work and we know that those strategies are not necessarily being replicated system to system or even within the same system building to building," said Gov. Malloy. "So it's important that we celebrate accomplishment, that we hold up examples of what can work."

The Governor is also cutting scholarships for students who want to go to in-state private colleges and universities, but he says he's making up for that by offering loan forgiveness for students who go on to be teachers.

Malloy wants to spend an additional $128 million on various education proposals, such as funding 500 new early childhood education seats, targeting additional funding to troubled schools and revamping teacher tenure practices.