CAPSS has honored Melinda Smith, Superintendent of Thompson Public Schools, with the 2026 CAPSS President’s Award.

The CAPSS President’s Award recognizes an individual or group that has made a distinctive contribution to Connecticut’s public schools, children, and communities. The award honors exceptional leadership, dedication, and service in advancing educational quality and student well-being.

Ms. Smith was recognized for her steady, student-centered leadership, her commitment to improving outcomes for all students, and her ability to build meaningful partnerships that connect public education to the future of work. Since becoming Superintendent of Thompson Public Schools in 2017, Ms. Smith has led the district through a period of significant growth, strengthened student supports, and expanded opportunities for students to graduate with a clearer path toward college, career, and community life.

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In 2021, the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) published a Blueprint to Transform Connecticut Public Schools – a vision of continuous improvement coupled with a comprehensive, long-term set of recommendations for addressing the educational and fiscal needs of Connecticut’s school districts. Each year since 2021, CAPSS has updated the Blueprint, reported on progress and amended the recommendations to reflect the most current needs and direction for our schools. 

Connecticut's Priority: Our Public Schools represents the 2026 update and revisions to the original Blueprint and suggests that Connecticut’s public elementary and secondary schools should become a much greater priority for both local and state policy makers and education practitioners.

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EAST LYME, Conn. — [November 22, 2025] — The Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) is proud to announce that Jeffrey R. Newton, Superintendent of East Lyme Public Schools, has been selected as the 2026 Connecticut Superintendent of the Year.

With more than two decades of service in public education, Jeffrey Newton has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success, instructional excellence, and community engagement. Since 2015, he has led the East Lyme Public Schools with integrity, innovation, and a steadfast dedication to fostering both academic achievement and the social-emotional well-being of students.

“It is an honor to recognize Jeffrey Newton for his extraordinary leadership and impact on Connecticut’s students and educators,” said Fran Rabinowitz, Executive Director of CAPSS. “Under his guidance, East Lyme Public Schools has become a model of collaborative leadership, continuous improvement, and student-centered learning.”

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Dear Colleagues,

Putnam is honored to host The Wall That Heals from September 10–13. Educational tours will be available for school groups on September 10 and 11. Please see the attached letter for details and consider sharing this opportunity with your teachers.

Best,
Steve

Steven Rioux
Superintendent of Schools
Putnam Public Schools

View letter

Empower your team with the knowledge and confidence they need to enhance school safety and preparedness across their communities. This immersive training covers the history, concepts.and functionality of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and the Standard Reunification Method (SRM) giving participants the tools they need to implement these proven programs in their organizations.

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WHO:  Presented by the Connecticut Intelligence Center (CTIC) for School Staff, Administrative Personnel, Call Takers, and Public Safety Partners.

WHAT:  A specialized professional briefing on recognizing swatting incidents, analyzing threat indicators, understanding emerging tactics, and applying protective response measures.

WHEN:  Wednesday, August 20, 2026 -  Offering two session options: 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM.

WHERE:  Virtual Class via Microsoft Teams (Access link provided prior to class to registered personnel).

WHY:  This training is specifically directed toward anyone who answers phones and may have to handle a caller threatening or swatting a school, facility, or public institution, equipping staff with essential threat identification, response, and reporting protocols.

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Strengthen your district's communication strategy with the Donovan Group’s nine-session professional learning series for superintendents, district leaders, and communication staff.

This year's refreshed curriculum features expert-led sessions on strategic planning, referendums, crisis communication, AI, enrollment marketing, storytelling, and community engagement. Participants also receive recorded sessions for on-demand access, a one-on-one strategy consultation with a Donovan Group partner, and access to all course materials through September 2027.

CAPSS Member Discount
CAPSS members receive $300 off registration with the code CTCOMMS500, bringing the cost to just $500 for a full year of professional learning. The program starts September 9 to discuss building a five-year communications plan.

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Learn More and Register

Connecticut's 2026 legislative session delivered something districts haven't seen since 2013: an increase in per-student funding in the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula for FY 2027.

Open Up Resources is ready to help Connecticut districts use this summer window and increased funding wisely, starting with a conversation about where your curriculum stands and what a high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) adoption process requires.\Available CT-approved curricula and support options for 2026-2027 and beyond include:

• EL Education K–5 Language Arts, the highest-rated K–5 ELA curriculum ever reviewed by EdReports
• Bookworms K–5 Reading & Writing, a CT-approved structured literacy program
• Open Up Resources K–8 Math and Open Up High School Mathematics, both rated all-green by EdReports

Key considerations for CT leaders exploring this opportunity:

• Open Up Resources is a non-profit and districts benefit from our holistic approach to publishing: high-quality materials, digital resources, and tailored professional learning all under one roof
• Our digital communities are free to educators and available throughout the school year

For more information or to schedule a curriculum conversation, please contact: Alexis LaVacca, Regional Development Manager, New England | Alexis.LaVacca@OpenUp.org | (631) 835-2311

EdTech Quality Indicators Guide
CoSN, as a member of the EdTech Quality Collaborative, along with Digital Promise, 1EdTech, CAST, ISTE and SETDA, is pleased to share guidance through a free resource created by the Collaborative to assist school leaders when it comes leading multiple aspects of technology innovation within school district communities. The EdTech Quality Indicators Guide is a free resource designed to help school leaders when dealing with technology selection, pilot programs and procurement processes. The EdTech Quality Indicators Guide bases its recommendations on five core indicators:

1. Safety
2. Evidence
3. Inclusivity
4. Usability
5. Interoperability

Additionally, the EdTech Quality Indicators Guide includes suggestions on how to maximize third party validations to make product vetting more efficient. Readers of the EdTech Quality Indicators Guide will learn a six-step framework to guide their education technology procurement processes, which includes how to analyze district needs, run pilots, efficiently plan technology rollouts and evaluate the return on their investments. Also included are templates and rubrics for optimization, risk reduction and improvement of student outcomes. You are invited to learn more about the EdTech Quality Indicators Guide (as well as freely download a copy of the complete guide) on the CoSN website at EdTech Quality Indicators Guide.

CoSN Statement on FCC Review of the E-Rate Program:
In early June 2026, CoSN published an official statement regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s plans to review the E-Rate program. In the published statement CoSN acknowledges the critical support E-Rate provides to school districts when it comes to educational connectivity. You are invited to read CoSN’s statement to the FCC at https://www.cosn.org/cosn-news/cosn-statement-on-fcc-review-of-the-e-rate-program/. You are also encouraged to send a message to your Members of Congress to express your support of the E-Rate Program. You are welcome to submit your message to Congress by using the submission form found on this CoSN Quorum page: https://cosn.quorum.us/campaign/165080/.

EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panel Broadcasts:
CoSN and AASA co-host The EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panel Series on edWeb.net. The series is sponsored by ClassLink. The focus of each broadcast looks at educational technology innovation through the lens of superintendent leadership. The goal of the series is to help superintendents, school leaders and educators connect and collaborate. The series has now completed eight seasons. Season nine is scheduled to launch in September 2026. Free access to previously recorded broadcasts (as well as podcast versions and articles) is available on the edWeb.net website at https://home.edweb.net/supers/.

CoSN Membership:
If you, your school or district would like more information about joining CoSN or getting more involved with CoSN, please contact membership@cosn.org

We are thrilled to host a webinar with Dr. Jared Horvath, cognitive neuroscientist and author of "The Digital Delusion," on the risks of screens in schools and how technology is impacting learning, what it means for kids and families, and what steps we're taking in Connecticut to get screens out of the classroom.

August 12th, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

register

flyer

Hello,

You are invited to a free online workshop on building a portfolio for college applications. We are offering it twice. The two sessions cover the same material, so please feel free to register for whichever session fits your schedule.

Tuesday, August 11, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 16, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Each session is capped at 10 students so there is time for individual feedback. Registration is first come, first served.

We will use Google Slides to build a clean, legible portfolio layout from start to finish. No prior experience with layout or design software is expected. If you have never arranged your work on a page before, this workshop is written for you!

This is not only for students applying to landscape architecture. Any program that requires a curated selection of visual material follows the same basic principles: architecture, interior design, graphic design, studio art, illustration, photography, fashion, film, and others. If you need to choose your strongest work and present it clearly, you will get something out of this seminar! 

A few things to know before you come:

1. Your work does not need to be finished. Bringing samples, even rough ones, will help you get more out of the time.
2. We recommend setting up a free Google account if you do not already have one, so you can work along with us in Google Slides.
3. We will also point you to Photopea (https://www.photopea.com/), a free browser-based image editor. Nothing to install, nothing to buy.

Pick your session and register here.

Bring your questions and whatever work you have! We look forward to seeing you there.

Best,
Tom Sterling
Assistant Professor in Residence, Landscape Architecture
University of Connecticut

I am recruiting superintendents from across the State of Connecticut to contribute to a research study highlighting the work and perspectives of district-level leaders. The study seeks to understand how superintendents are thinking about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in their leadership in a highly polarized educational environment. Study participants will be able to confidentially share their experiences in a 60-minute virtual interview. Findings from the study will contribute to researcher and practitioner knowledge about superintendent successes and challenges related to DEI work in today's political climate. 

As a former public school principal-turned-researcher, I understand how valuable your time is and thank you in advance for your consideration! If you are interested in participating or learning more, please reach out to Emily Myers (emilycmyers@nyu.edu).

What are the key challenges facing districts, and how are district leaders navigating them?

To find out, the American School District Panel team surveyed and interviewed district leaders, and found that 54% of respondents identified budget shortfalls in their top 3 challenges in 2026, compared with 33% in 2025. The second most commonly identified challenge, addressing declining enrollment, results in a difficult cycle of decreased revenue and increased costs.

Learn more here

Hi leaders,

As you are likely aware, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on K-12 Education Funding and Accountability is underway, and the Commission is actively seeking to hear from stakeholders and experts across the state to gather public perspectives that will help inform their thinking. 

Opportunity #1: The Commission needs to hear from you as leaders of our school districts.

Please use this link to sign up for a superintendent small group discussion hosted by the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) who is facilitating the Commission. Your responses in these discussions will be aggregated and shared anonymously with the Commission. If none of these times work for you, see the survey for how to request a 1:1 conversation instead.

• Tuesday July 28, 2026 : 12:00 - 1:00pm ET
• Wednesday August 5, 2026 : 3:00 - 4:00pm ET
• Thursday August 13, 2026 : 9:00 - 10:00am ET

Opportunity #2: The Commission needs to hear from your broader community.

Please share the following broadly with your communities, families, staff, and union leadership.

• This survey, which is an opportunity to share thoughts anonymously (takes about 5-10 minutes to complete)
• Virtual listening sessions, which are opportunities to share thoughts, questions, and concerns for the commission (take place twice a week, schedule and registration link here)

With gratitude,

Fran

Hello,

I hope this email finds you well.

I am reaching out from the Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University with an exciting opportunity for upcoming high school graduates. The center will be hosting a College Success for Neurodivergent Students event on Saturday, November 14th from 9 AM - 12:30 PM at SCSU's campus for neurodivergent high school students interested in applying to college.

The goal of this program is to provide students and their families with a thorough understanding of the college experience and what sets students up for success in higher education. This program will feature information about the differences between high school and college presented by our director, Dr. Kari Sassu. The program will also feature presentations that provide insights from admissions officers, perspectives from residential life, and an overview of the accommodations available for incoming students. These presentations will each be followed by a Q and A opportunity for attendants. The event will end with a panel discussion featuring SCSU students, faculty, and staff.

In this email, a flyer has been attached which provides additional details and registration information for this event. We ask that you please share information about this event with those that might be interested in your community. This event is free, but we ask that attendants register in advance online. Space is limited for this program, so registration is limited to students and their parents/guardians.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. 

Best,

Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorder

view the flyer/register

Dear Superintendents and School Administrators:

The University of New Haven is pleased to share a new professional learning opportunity designed specifically for instructional leaders who want to elevate their understanding of school finance, operations, and the systems that drive district success.

The University has launched a new partnership with ASBO (Association of School Business Officials) International, becoming a preferred provider of online micro credential courses in school finance and operations. These seven week courses deliver practical, immediately applicable learning in budget development, HR and staffing, facilities and transportation oversight, and compliance and ancillary services — all taught by experienced leaders with deep experience in municipal and educational finance.

If you are looking to expand your leadership toolkit, either for yourself, your staff, or to prepare for future district-level roles, these courses offer a flexible and meaningful pathway. The courses are designed for working adults and each course runs for seven weeks on Thursday evenings from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Credits earned may also be applied toward the University’s online MPA program. Readings for these courses are not just academic, but are key documents that school administrators use on a daily basis, i.e., Tom Mooney’s book in Connecticut School Law, Local BOE Policy books, etc. 

These courses are taught by individuals that hold professional 085 certificates, and have extensive experience not only in BOE business operations, but also municipal operations and finances.

Fall courses include:

•  Public School Financial Management — August 27 to October 8
•  Public School Operations — October 22 to December 10 

Classes meet Thursday evenings from 5:30–7:30 p.m.

For more information and registration: Micro-Credentials In School Financial Management and Operations Micro-credential Program - University of New Haven