Hartford, Conn. – During a speech to local educators on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon highlighted the Trump administration’s education agenda and its impact on Connecticut’s public‑school system. She cited the case of Aleysha Ortiz, a recent Hartford High School graduate who, despite earning honors and a scholarship, sued her district claiming she could not read or write.
Trump administration’s fiscal redirection
McMahon noted that Hartford Public Schools operates with a budget exceeding $400 million and employs roughly 1,800 non‑teaching staff, including a chief of talent and a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer. She argued that the Biden administration had directed competitive grant money to the district for DEI‑focused professional development, diverting resources from core instruction.
“The Trump administration has taken billions away from DEI classroom initiatives and bureaucrat‑centric projects and reinvested those dollars to supercharge the fundamentals: the ability to read well, write clearly, understand mathematics, and think critically,” McMahon said. She emphasized that the federal scholarship tax credit, a signature Trump‑era school‑choice measure, empowers parents to select the educational setting that best fits their child.
Local officials push back, but acknowledge challenges
Hartford’s education leaders offered a different diagnosis. A recent state review found the district facing a deficit of tens of millions of dollars, a shortfall many attribute to the city’s limited taxable property base. Superintendent Andraé Townsel and board chair Shontá Browdy declined comment on Ortiz’s lawsuit.
Former teachers‑union president Carol Gale called McMahon’s assessment “crazy,” noting that even eliminating excess directors would not solve the district’s chronic budget gaps. Gale also pointed to the expansion of school‑choice programs, saying the rise of magnet schools has spread funding thinner across the system.
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam echoed the criticism, accusing federal leaders of blaming the challenges of Hartford schools on student diversity rather than supporting classroom work. Former mayor Luke Bronin, now a congressional candidate, accused McMahon of undermining public education and delegating special‑education responsibilities to political opponents.
State response and ongoing reforms
Connecticut State Department of Education spokesperson Matt Cerrone highlighted recent state investments in literacy, including the Science of Reading Masterclass, high‑quality instructional materials, professional learning, and literacy coaching. He said these tools are intended to help educators meet students’ needs.
Despite the criticism, the Trump administration’s school‑choice agenda remains a central theme of the Secretary’s remarks. “Whatever a parent decides for their child, our country now affirms what should have always been evident: that choice belongs to you,” McMahon declared.
Community reaction
The current president of the Hartford Federation of Teachers, Corey Moses, warned that the federal scholarship tax credit could further privatize schooling. He urged the secretary to join local educators in advocating for the resources needed to ensure every student can grow, achieve, and prosper.
While the debate over DEI funding and school‑choice continues, McMahon’s message underscored the Trump administration’s belief that refocusing federal dollars on core academic skills and parental choice will ultimately improve outcomes for Connecticut’s students.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
