Today I was joined by Speaker Aresimowicz, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, and current and former Vo-ag students to show our support for Vo-ag programs. I’m sponsoring legislation that would make funding for vocational agricultural programs equal to that of other school choice programs, such as charter and magnet schools. Just like technical high schools, Vo-ag programs are critical to preparing students to succeed in today’s job market, and these students deserve our full support.
HB 5451, An Act Concerning Funding For Regional Agricultural Science And Technology Education Centers, would bring the funding level for vocational agricultural programs in alignment with that of other school choice programs, such as charter and magnet schools. Instead of placing an unfunded mandate on the sending school district, we should be funding Vo-ag programs in the same way we do other school choice programs. The programs at Wamogo, Housatonic Valley, and Northwestern High Schools have been a great resource for students from Torrington and the surrounding area. It is crucial that we continue to invest in programs that fuel our state’s economic growth.