Back-to-School Cash Benefit for Kids Ahead of New Academic Year

August 18, 2023


 

It is officially back-to-school season!

In this week's legislative update you will find resources to help your family prepare for the 2023-2024 school year. 

Please contact my office if you have questions or comments about items in this newsletter.

Have a great weekend!

 
Back To School - Public Education Funding
We worked hard to deliver a budget that adheres to our fiscal guardrails while still providing hundreds of millions in more funding to our local schools. Here are some of the historic investments we made in public education.
 
 Back-to-School Cash Benefit for Kids

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) will deliver a one-time, back-to-school cash benefit to 7,500 children across the state using federal Pandemic Emergency Assistance Funds (PEAF). This benefit will go to children aged 5 to 17 who were enrolled in the Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) program in May 2023.

Specific information about the Saturday, August 19 distribution:

  • The one-time cash benefit is $55 per eligible child.
  • 4-year-olds who turned 5 by May 31 are eligible
  • 17-year-old who turned 18 by May 2 are eligible
  • Families do not need to apply for the additional funds, all eligible households will automatically receive this benefit on their existing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.

The cash benefit coincides with the start of Connecticut’s Tax-Free Week, which runs from August 20 – August 26, to help families maximize back-to-school purchases or other essential needs.

Connecticut previously distributed approximately $7 million in PEAF assistance in August 2022. The funding for this round of benefits came from a supplemental federal PEAF distribution.
 
Summer Mental Health Grants For
Schools & Camps
It is no secret the pandemic has had a lasting negative effect on our children. As a result, the state is providing more than $4.5 million in summer mental health grants for schools and camps over a three-year period.

Between Stamford Public Schools and two summer camps, our community will receive a total of $205,200. Our students deserve year-round support, and this critical funding will help address their social and emotional needs in the summer months.
Here is a closer look at the funding:
 
                      Lead applicant                                   Total grant award

                      Stamford School District                        $83,700          

                      RF Youth Boxing Inc.                             $40,500

                       Exchange Club Center for
                      the Prevention of Child                         $81,000
                      Abuse of Southern CT Inc
                      (Help for Kids)

This funding will allow students to seek out the mental health services they need to acclimate, grow, and prosper in and outside of the classroom.
Learn More About Mental Health Grants For Schools & Camps
 
Absentee Ballot for College Students
With the upcoming college semester just around the corner, I wanted to remind all eligible students who will be attending college out of our district to apply for an absentee ballot. Your vote matters and it's essential that we all participate in shaping the future of our community. To learn more, please click here.
 
Delivering for Higher Education
We have made significant strides in supporting higher education and ensuring a brighter future with opportunities, support, and financial relief for our students.

During the 2023 legislative session, we allocated over $135 million more for higher education in our biennial state budget than initially proposed. We did this in order to support initiatives that reflect our commitment to addressing the challenges faced by students and graduates. 

Some of this year's priorities include 

PA 23-204, which expanded our debt-free community college program to incorporate subsidies for returning students and established a student loan forgiveness program that offers up to $20,000 in debt forgiveness for individuals who meet certain criteria and volunteer at a local nonprofit.
We also streamlined the eligibility requirements for the Roberta Willis Scholarship and enabled the program to notify students of their scholarship awards earlier in the year, so they’ll have full knowledge of their financial aid before choosing which school to attend in the fall.

Additionally, we passed several other measures to support higher education, such as: 
  • Lower state-backed loan refinancing rates for nurses (PA 23-60)
  • Prohibiting colleges and universities from withholding transcripts due to outstanding debt (PA 23-14)
  • Providing student loan subsidies for paraeducators, school counselors, police officers, and EMS personnel (PA 23-70) 
     

I will continue working with my colleagues to find opportunities that will provide those interested in obtaining a college degree with the necessary tools to help them achieve their goals. 
 
CT Transit Rail Update

This is a big deal! The new rail cars will have:

  • A spacious two-by-two seating configuration
  • Easy access for passengers using mobility aids
  • Convenient overhead luggage racks
  • Foldable workstation tables
  • A bicycle storage area
  • Reliable Wi-Fi connection
  • Real-time information displays
  • Conveniently located power outlets and USB ports
  • Panoramic balcony-style windows giving an enhanced view.