Connecticut's Public School Teachers Endorse DeStefano/Glassman

New Haven - John DeStefano - Democratic nominee for governor - and Mary Messina Glassman - Democratic nominee for Lt. Gov. - received the endorsement today of the Connecticut American Federation of Teachers (AFT) - representing more than 26,000 teachers, public employees, educational personnel, health care professionals, and college faculty members. Combined with the recent endorsement of the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) - DeStefano and Glassman now have the support of more than 45,000 public school teachers across the state.

"The working families of Connecticut have suffered long enough under the Rowland and Rell Administrations," said Sharon Palmer, president of AFT Connecticut. "Connecticut deserves better and they will get it with John DeStefano."

"I am honored to have the endorsement of Connecticut's public school teachers, and all the workers represented by the AFT," said DeStefano. "Our children and teachers deserve to have a friend in the Governor's office - one who will ensure that every 3 and 4 year-old has access to a pre-k experience, one who will lower class sizes, and always keep the state's promise to teachers by funding their pensions."

The reality is that Gov. Rell has failed our children and failed our families by under-funding education and relying on homeowners to pick up the tab. Adjusted for inflation, state funding for primary and secondary education has fallen by more than ten percent in the past five years. (CT Voices) Over the same time period, funding for early care programs in Connecticut has dropped fifteen percent. According to CT Voices, Gov. Jodi Rell's 2007 education budget "barely keeps pace" with inflation and fails to properly address the state's educational achievement gaps.

"Under George Bush's No Child Left Behind plan, our schools and educators have been forced to cut through miles of bureaucratic red tape while our cities and towns were left with empty promises of increased funding to help meet their goals," continued Palmer. "John DeStefano will work to improve education for every child in Connecticut."

Palmer says Gov. Rell's failed leadership on health care is another reason AFT endorsed DeStefano, "During the past twelve years of Rowland and Rell, Connecticut's uninsured and underinsured have grown dramatically," said Palmer. "John DeStefano is committed to providing health care coverage to all Connecticut's citizens, not just the ones who can afford it."