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Address calls for free school breakfast, K–12 blue-ribbon commission and limits on smartphones in classrooms
Summary
The speaker said the budget would provide free school breakfast for all students, announced an executive order to create a blue-ribbon commission on K–12 funding and urged a "no phones bell to bell" policy in schools to reduce distractions and protect children.
Unidentified Speaker told the General Assembly the proposed budget provides free school breakfast "for all of our students," adding "No shame, no stigma, no empty stomachs." He said he will sign an executive order to create a blue-ribbon commission to review K–12 funding, the foundation grant and special-education strategy.
The speaker described prior special-education reforms and funding, citing $80,000,000 added in the last session, and said the commission will examine consolidation of overhead across Connecticut's 207 school districts to save money for classrooms.
On classroom technology, the speaker argued social media and smartphones can harm children's focus and urged stricter limits, including a proposal for no phones "bell to bell" in schools and regional coordination on age-based app access under parental permission.
What comes next: The speaker said an executive order creating the commission will be signed soon; specific legislative measures or statutory changes were not announced during the address.
