Student Testimonies from the March 19th, 2025, Student Press Conference and Hearing in Hartford, CT.
Join us in reading this collaborative publication of testimonies given by young people from across the state of Connecticut. On March 19, 2025, over 100 students from New Haven and New London organized a day of action, held a press conference, and testified in the Education Committee to demand equitable funding for their schools across CT. We put this publication forth in efforts to call attention to the very lives of the people impacted by Senate Bill SB 1511, an Act Concerning Disconnected Youth.
We extend the utmost gratitude to Connecticut for All, FRESH New London, and @nhps.studentreps for leading this powerful action! Please tune in with each of these pages to remain in the loop!
Photos below taken by Eric Bryant, Wilbur Cross Student.
JOHN CARLOS SERANA MUSSER
12th grade, Wilbur Cross High School. New Haven, CT.
I am John Carlos Serana Musser. Student Representatives on the New Haven Board of Education are here with 100 of my fellow New Haven Public School students.
We come to the state capital, not only because it is our duty as citizens to engage in the civic process, but the conditions of our education are critical enough for us to miss a full day of learning and demand change.
Our education has taught us that America was intended to stand on a pillar of equity. What is no better example of that than Public Education? An institution that recognizes the power of learning and how it can be a great equalizer regardless of shortcomings. That was at least the idea of Horace Mann the American Father of Education.
Our education has taught us that our country is failing to uphold its promise of equity and is failing to support institutions critical to the American dream. We have learned this not from a teacher but from our experience as a New Haven Public School Student.
Equity recognizes that people have different problems and thus different levels of support. 1 out of every 5 students in New Haven Public Schools is learning English as a first language. In the 2023-2024 school year 1,084 students were homeless according to Edsight, and many more suffered from economic hardship. How can I reconcile my district's struggles, the struggles of children, and the struggles of our fellow humans with the fact students in New Haven Public Schools receive nearly 1,000 dollars less than the state average? Districts like Greenwich and Westport, places whose median income is over 100,000 dollars spend nearly 10,000 dollars more per student.
Is this equity?
At 7:40 a.m. this morning we left behind schools that struggled with mold in their facilities, leaky roofs, and keeping teachers in their classrooms. Now we come to the state government that sits on billions of dollars in budget surplus, that oversees one of the richest states in the richest country in the world, and ask what will you do when you hear the stories of my fellow students?
If you are a lawmaker will you water America’s roots in equity or nurture a widening gap between the struggling and the advantaged?
If you are a student and you are watching. You need to act now. Our country, as we know, is in danger.
From the fabric of our democracy threatened by oligarchs to our existence threatened by climate change. This is not time for apathy, this is not time for hopelessness, this is not time for half measures. It's time for us to take our term as stewards of this earth, as the future leaders, and defenders of what is right. Though we cannot not vote, we can more definitely learn, organize, and demand change.
JADELISE GARRETT
Senior Class President, New London High School. Hearing Youth Voices. New London, CT.
Good morning,
My name is Jadelise Garrett, and I am a student leader and community activist. I am here today to testify in support of SB 1511 because underfunded and understaffed schools in New London—and across Connecticut—are failing students and putting our futures at risk.
Despite the state's budget surplus, our schools continue to struggle with teacher shortages and lack of resources, leaving students without the support they need. I’ve experienced this firsthand, and it’s time we address these issues to ensure every student has access to the quality education they deserve.
First, we must acknowledge the reality: 12% of students in New London are homeless, and 90% come from low-income households. Schools are not just places of learning—they are safe havens where parents trust that their children will grow into well-rounded individuals. Yet, without proper staffing and funding, that trust is broken, and students are left without the support they need to succeed. Students go through all of this while spending the entirety of their days without the proper resources and support in a district and state that knows they are in need.
For years, students in New London have endured chronic teacher shortages. From middle school to high school, I personally faced a revolving door of substitute teachers, leading to disruptions in my education. Entire classes were left without consistent instruction, and as a result, I struggled academically. I failed courses—not because I lacked the ability, but because there was no stability in the classroom. Adding to that, the inconsistency contributed to poor attendance habits, as students lost faith in a system that was supposed to prepare them for the future. Teachers, counselors, and wellness staff are stretched thin, doing everything they can with too little. Without additional funding, students in crisis continue to slip through the cracks. I’ve spent years watching classmates come to school hungry, exhausted, or overwhelmed with responsibilities no child should have to carry. How can we effectively learn?
Connecticut’s teacher retention crisis has only made matters worse. While the state boasts a record-setting $4.1 billion in its emergency budget reserve, New London's schools are struggling to hire and retain qualified educators. Wealthier districts offer higher salaries and better working conditions, pulling teachers away from lower-income schools like mine. In fact, 71% of teaching vacancies in Connecticut are in the state's 36 Alliance Districts, which serve nearly half of all Connecticut’s students yet are disproportionately affected by staff shortages.
Furthermore, New London’s challenges go even deeper. Over 20% of New London’s population lives below the poverty line, yet much of our land—like college campuses, churches, and government buildings—is exempt from property taxes. In a city that is just 5 square miles, we have three colleges, numerous churches, and large nonprofit institutions that do not contribute to the tax base. Downtown alone has four churches within a two-block radius, further limiting the city’s ability to generate revenue for essential services like public education. As a result, New London’s schools rely more heavily on state funding. Funding that has consistently fallen short.
This is not just a New London issue—it’s a statewide crisis. My team and I have testified locally every year, urging for better funding, yet the problem persists. Research shows that Alliance Districts across Connecticut face similar struggles, where students are left without essential resources due to systemic underfunding. The gap between wealthy and lower-income school districts continues to widen, and without intervention, students like myself will continue to be unfairly disadvantaged simply because of where we live.
Meanwhile, Connecticut has run up more than $12 billion in budget surpluses over the past several years, yet our schools continue to struggle. I personally attended the People’s Budget meeting, where I heard firsthand how this surplus could be used to invest in education, housing, and healthcare services. The reality is that Connecticut has the money to fully staff our schools, pay teachers fair wages, and provide students with the support they need, and it is imperative they do so.
The consequences of underfunding education are clear. When students don’t have qualified teachers, they fall behind. When teachers are overworked and underpaid, they leave. And when schools can’t meet the needs of their students, entire communities suffer.
We have the resources to change this. If we truly care about our youth, we need to invest in them. Not just in words, but in action.
Thank you.
JOURNEY ROSA
9th grade, Sound School. New Haven, CT.
“What Is It Worth?”
I have watched ceilings give up,
watched rain slip through the cracks of a system built to break.
I have walked hallways where the cold settles into our bones,
where heaters hum their last breath before falling silent.
I have sat in classrooms where the walls whisper,
where the paint peels like it's trying to escape,
where the desks wobble like they, too, are tired of standing on broken ground.
I have seen students ration their meals like there’s a test on hunger,
seen my friends sleep through first period—
not because they’re lazy,
but because they were working overnight shifts,
or watching siblings,
or searching for a place to lay their head.
And yet—
we show up.
We try.
We dream.
But tell me—
how do you dream when the ceiling is caving in?
How do you learn when the state tells you education is a privilege,
not a right?
New Haven is a city of brilliance,
but brilliance dims when left in the dark.
We are funded $10,000 less per student than a child in Greenwich.
Tell me—
is my education worth $10,000 less?
Is my future something to cut from the budget?
One in five of us are learning English,
but the funding does not speak our language.
Our teachers stretch themselves thinner than the pages of our textbooks,
our schools ration paper like it’s gold,
our city cannot afford to raise more money because Yale owns our streets
but not our struggles.
I have watched my classmates learn to fix broken chairs,
learn to silence their stomachs,
learn to fight battles they never signed up for.
We are told to work harder, dream bigger—
but how do you climb when the ladder is broken?
How do you succeed when the state decides who gets to try?
They tell us the money isn’t there—
but $4.1 billion sits untouched.
They say it’s not that simple—
but when did a child’s future become a matter of convenience?
They say they’re doing what they can—
but when was the last time they sat in a classroom
where the heat stopped working in December?
When was the last time they had to share a textbook
so worn down it barely remembers its own words?
We hear the excuses.
We see the contradictions.
They tell us to be grateful,
to be patient,
to understand.
But what I understand is this:
The money exists. The need exists. The suffering exists.
The only thing missing is the choice to care.
So, I’ll ask you:
What is it worth?
What is my future worth to you?
What is a student’s education worth in the richest country?
Because if you say it’s priceless,
then why do you keep leaving it up for debate?
ELVIS HERRERA
12th grade, Grasso Tech. FRESH New London. New London, CT.
Good morning, my name is Elvis Herrera, and I am speaking on behalf of Nakayla Isaac, a senior at New London HS who is a strong advocate within both her school and city community. I am also speaking as a student and a life-long resident of New London.
In our city, there are extremely important, and well funded services, such as our sports department, art pathways, & our free lunch programs. Even so, New London High School has urgent needs, and there has been an ongoing battle regarding our education budget.
Over the past two years, the city council has cut the education budget once again, even though it has never properly reflected our needs. We are at risk of losing wellness support for mental health services that are crucial for our students. I converse with people on a daily basis who specifically need services like wellness interventionists, or guidance support. A lot of my friends do not have anyone at home to assist them with mental health services. When the school budget gets cut, mental health services are the first thing on the chopping block.
Additionally, the buses, especially in the mornings, are a huge problem. As I walk onto the bus, I have to look for a seat…except, there are none. I have to look for any seat that already has two people sitting, making it a three seater.
This is extremely UNSAFE, and DANGEROUS. Some kids physically cannot get on a bus that is packed to the aisles, and would rather stay home.
This leads to our poor attendance, with New London High School having a 33% chronic absence rate in 2023, which contributes to our 68% graduation rate, in a state where the average is 88.4%. That means one in three of all of our students are chronically absent. If this isn’t bad enough, we are at risk of budget cuts that would further shrink our bussing capacity.
It is our hope that the legislators today will hear our concerns and fulfill their responsibility to take action. Action that will result in direct benefit to our students. When you invest in the youth, you invest in the whole community. Thank you.
PAYTON GOODWIN
11th grade, Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School. New Haven, CT.
Good afternoon, my name is Payton Goodwin. I am a student at Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School or CO-OP in New Haven. I am also a member of CO-OP’s student council, having a position as the junior class communications officer.
I am testifying on Senate Bill SB 1511, An Act Concerning Disconnected Youth. As a student, I know that students are connected within their learning, but rather some of the issues within our schools are disconnecting them:
Firstly, we need consistent teachers within our facilities. I know that at CO-OP sometimes many teachers leave the school only for classes to be left with “permanent subs” for the rest of the school year. These teachers, who we as students are meant to form relations with, leave due to lack of pay from the district, and due to the lack of pay students lose their education. Students cannot learn in an environment where teachers are consistently leaving due to not making enough to support themselves or their families. Personally I can connect with this, during my sophomore year my English teacher left halfway throughout the school year as he got a position that paid more in New York. He left in January, I didn’t get a new official English teacher until May. This loss of a teacher hindered my peers and my own writing skills. Students deserve an education, and teachers deserve enough money to make a living.
Secondly, the condition of the buildings are in need of improvement. At CO-OP there are several mice living within the walls and crawling across the floor. There are several floor tiles missing, toilets missing or broken, as well as even a student falling through the ceiling. Even with the funds that we have now, it is hard to improve this, so imagine how much worse it would be if our funds were taken from us. As a leader in my school, I want to ensure the safety of my peers, but we cannot ensure student safety or comfort if there are broken ceilings and mice within the schools.
Thirdly, as one of the richest counties in the state, we have one of the lowest money per student ratio. Sitting around 20k per student, this is lower than Guilford's money per student as well as Greenwich. What doesn’t help us even more is due to Yale owning most of the buildings in New Haven, the district taxes cover only a small amount of the money that students are given for classes and activities. Most of the money that goes into the students is federal and state money. With the risk of losing our board of education on the federal level this could have severe consequences on the students of New Haven, especially low and middle income students. AP, ECE classes, and the SAT would no longer be paid for, therefore most low and middle income students would no longer be able to take classes or testing that could potentially help them get into a good and creditable college. Without the funding, students can’t get the grade.
To close, if these issues are fixed, I know that many of the students that you are concerned that are disconnected will connect again with many of the already attentive students. I hope we can work together to fund the future of all public school students across Connecticut because our schools need to be funded. I urge you to make this your priority for this year.
Thank you for your time. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
JONAILY COLON
11th grade, High School in the Community. New Haven, CT.
Co-chair McCrory, Co-chair Leeper, and members of the Education Committee,
Hello, I’m Jonaily Eve Colon, a student representative on the New Haven Board of Education and a proud student at High School in the Community or HSC. I am here today to speak in support of SB 1511 - An Act Concerning Disconnected Youth. On behalf of all the HSC students here today, I would like to share some stories about how a lack of funding has negatively impacted our high school experience.
Since starting high school, all of us have had personal experiences with the poor quality of our buildings and other facilities. As a result of underfunding, students I know, like Fatima, have to be concerned about dangerous leaks in the chemistry room each time it rains, putting students at risk when we work with chemicals that could be damaged by leaks. Japhet says when it rains, we shouldn’t have to worry about our second-floor ceilings leaking constantly. Ashley says the mold in the ceiling could potentially become hazardous to our learning experience. Isaac explains that students see our school like trash and so they treat it like trash. Emiliana is worried about our building being able to endure the increasing number of storms caused by climate change. I agree with my fellow students that our schools are currently in horrible condition and we need to do something about it. As students, we know we deserve better. We know we should be focused on SATs and college apps, not leaky roofs and moldy classrooms. Adding more funding, as proposed in this bill, will help us be able to focus on what matters in school: learning.
Diana says, in our current systems children who grow up in wealthier towns inevitably receive more financial support.
“In the eyes of the state, why should a child in one district be worth more money than a child in another district?”
Our neighboring town, Hamden, receives almost $3,000 more per pupil in funds than New Haven Public School students. Because many universities in New Haven have exemptions from property taxes, the city of New Haven and NHPS don’t receive as much local funding as other cities and school districts. We, the students, shouldn’t bear those effects, which is why Connecticut's billion-dollar surplus should be used to benefit our district by fixing our schools and giving us more equitable opportunities.
Connecticut is one of the richest states, yet our schools don’t reflect that. Our district wants the best for our students, but they can only do so much with the funds they have. We want all students to attend a public high school where they will flourish, and this can’t happen without adequate funding. On behalf of my school and all the students I represent, I support the additional funding in SB 1511. With this funding, we can help students not only stay connected to their schools, but thrive in them. Thank you for listening to me today.
KYMIYAH WILLIS
10th grade, New London High School. Hearing Youth Voices. New London, CT.
Hello my name is Kymiyah I am a 10th grade student athlete at new London high school. I am here to testify in support of SB 1511 which can support the financial needs of our school district. Imagine beginning your day by getting on a bus of high school students sitting 3 to a seat, it can be overwhelming to find a safe place to sit. Since I have started high school the busses have been a problem, and it’s getting out of hand people are sitting in the aisle, many students have to walk if there is no more space and this is a safety concern and can cause anxiety and stress among students, affecting their focus and well being, both are which crucial for effective learning. This can reduce the ability to concentrate and participate actively in class. This is causing attendance issues which can negatively affect students academic performance. In 2023 1 out of every 3 New London students was chronically absent. SB 1511 can support funding afterschool programs. Afterschool programs provide safe spaces, enrichment activities, and support for students' academic and emotional development. I play basketball as a way to decompress from things I may not want to talk about if I don’t want to talk to one of the wellness interventionists. If budgeting is cut and these positions are cut, outside of basketball how am I supposed to express myself. to be honest it only makes me think about my peers who aren’t athletic, how are they supposed to manage school when our community and school system is setting us up for failure, thank you
AMBAR SANTIAGO-ROJAS
12th grade, ESUMS. Semillas Collective. New Haven, CT.
Good morning everyone,
My name is Ambar Santiago-Rojas, and I am a student at Engineering & Science University School in West Haven. I am also a Semilla Collective and New Haven Immigrants Coalition member.
I am here today because our schools are in crisis, and it's time to act.
Every year, we have to fight for necessities—things that should be guaranteed in a state as wealthy as Connecticut.
Underfunding isn't just numbers, it's our reality.
At my school, we've had to cancel activities and field trips, not because we don't want to learn outside the classroom, but because there's simply no money for it. The bathrooms sometimes smell like sewage, making it unbearable to focus in class. Some of the doors won't unlock once they're shut, and we just have to deal with it. These things may seem small on paper, but when they happen every single day, it sends a message: we don't matter enough to fix.
And while other high schools in our district have libraries, we don't. The closest thing we have are the small bookshelves in our English teacher's classrooms. How are we supposed to develop a love for reading, study for research projects, or even have a quiet place to work when we don't have a library? A real library should not be a privilege, it should be a given.
Our teachers are paying the price…literally.
It's not just students who feel this. Our teachers are using their own money to buy things like lined paper, printing paper, markers, and colored pencils. Supplies that the school should be able to provide. They already give us their time, energy, and their commitment. Why are they also expected to give us their paychecks just so we can have the basics?
And yet, instead of making sure students and teachers have what they need, SB 1511 sends funding outside of schools. That is not the solution. We don't need money taken away from our classrooms, we need it invested into them.
We need schools that work for us.
In New Haven, We receive about $10,000 less per student than other districts. That's fewer resources, fewer opportunities, and fewer chances for students like me and my peers to succeed.
One in five students is learning English, yet there aren't enough programs or teachers to support them. How is that setting them up for success?
We live in one of the richest states in the richest country in the world, but when you talk about having money in schools, suddenly we are no longer wealthy.
This is about justice, not money! Every year we’re forced to fundraise just to afford basic senior events like prom and end-of-year activities. This is supposed to be a time to celebrate.
And every year we are told that the state doesn't have enough to fully fund our schools. But that's not true. Their money is there, it's just not going where it's needed most. We don't need another outside program to “keep students connected.” We need basics: functioning facilities, enough teachers, and the resources to succeed.
I urge you, not just as a student, but as someone who cares about the future of this state to invest in sus. Fund our schools, and we will thrive. Ignore us, and you're telling an entire generation that we don't matter.
Thank you for your time.
JOHANELYZ ARROYO
Junior Vice President, Hillhouse High School. New Haven, CT.
Good morning everyone,
Thank you all for gathering here today. My name is Johanelyz Arroyo, and I stand before you not just as a Junior Vice President at my School but as a voice for countless individuals whose stories often go unheard. Today we are here to shed light on a critical issue that affects us all, the state of public education and the glaring inequalities that exist within it.
Education is often hailed as the great equalizer, a pathway to opportunity and success. Yet, the reality is far different. In New Haven, our Public schools are underfunded, go through law violations, and lack the essential resources that are needed to provide a quality education. This is not just a statistic, it is the lived experience of students who walk into classrooms every day with dreams in their hearts but face barriers that stifle their potential.
I have been in classrooms where the textbooks are outdated, the technology is non-existent, and the teachers are overwhelmed. The ladies room lacks feminine products. This is the reality for many students in our public education system in New Haven . We deserve better. We deserve classrooms that inspire, teachers who are supported and are paid enough, and resources that empower them to thrive. Us young ladies deserve to receive feminine products in our lavs without having to fight for it.
I ask myself: Why is it that the zip code determines the quality of education a child receives? Why do some students have access to advanced equipment and courses, while others are left to struggle in under-resourced schools? This is not just an education issue, it is a matter of social justice. Every child, regardless of their background, deserves access to a high-quality education that equips them for the future.
Today, I stand here with dozens of other students from Hartford, New London and New Haven. We demand equitable funding for our public schools, so that every child has access to the resources they need to succeed. We demand that our voices be heard in the halls of power, where decisions about our education are made. We must advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of all students, not just a privileged few.
We raise our voices today because we are not just fighting for ourselves. We are fighting for future generations. We are fighting for the child who dreams of becoming a doctor, the artist who wants to share their vision with the world, and the leader who will change our communities for the better. Together, we can create a public education system that reflects our values of equality, opportunity, and justice.
I stand here today as a student who believes in the power of education but also as a student that knows that unless schools are equitably funded– we will not receive the education we deserve. Now is the time to truly invest in the future of Connecticut by adding more funding to the Public Schools that need it the most. Like the schools in New Haven – where I live. Thank you!