Month: April 2023

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-Ill.-10) on Wednesday reintroduced legislation that would allow caregivers to receive a Social Security credit. The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would provide retirement compensation in the form of Social Security credits to individuals who leave the workforce to care for their loved ones. U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) also co-sponsored the legislation

More than 1 in 5 Americans are currently caring for loved ones who are ill, disabled, or elderly, and tens of millions of Americans leave the workforce entirely or reduce their hours significantly to care for loved ones at some point in their career. Studies indicate that, on average, income losses due to caregiving total more than $300,000, threatening retirement security. Women, who make up two-thirds of unpaid caregivers, are disproportionately impacted. According to recent research from AARP, there are more than 420,000 caregivers in Connecticut providing $7.2 billion in unpaid care to loved ones.

“Caregivers shouldn’t be docked their Social Security benefits because they step away from the workforce to care for a loved one. Caregiving is work, and it’s time we start treating it that way. This legislation would ensure that the selfless decision to care for a family member no longer jeopardizes if and when you can retire,” said Murphy.

“We’ve seen more and more workers have to make the impossible choice between receiving Social Security or caring for their loved ones,” said Schneider. “Americans who make the selfless decision to leave the workforce to care for their family or friends should not be financially penalized. This commonsense legislation will finally recognize caregiving as work and reduce financial hardship for American families.” 

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Wednesday joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in introducing the Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers (PACT) Act, legislation to put Congress on a fiscally responsible path to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis.

“Schools serving students from low-income backgrounds and children with disabilities have been short-changed for far too long because Congress has failed to fully fund IDEA and Title I. This legislation would ensure that our most vulnerable students get the support they need by providing the range of services and resources that truly transform students’ lives. I’ll keep pushing until every kid gets a quality education,” said Murphy.

“Fully funding the education of students with disabilities and low-income students should be nonnegotiable. School districts and educators deserve adequate resources to provide all students with a meaningful classroom experience. By bolstering Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, our legislation ensures our students are supported rather than shortchanged,” said Blumenthal.

“Keeping the American promise of equal opportunity for all means ensuring every child has access to a first-rate education. But too many students have been left behind as a result of the federal government shortchanging Title I and IDEA. The Keep Our PACT Act is about upholding our end of the bargain to make the needed investments in education for underserved communities and students with disabilities,” said Van Hollen.

The bill is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders, (I-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).

Title I, which gives assistance to America’s highest-need schools, is a critical tool to ensure that every child, no matter their zip code, has access to a quality education. However, it has been deeply underfunded, disadvantaging the most vulnerable students living in poverty. According to the National Education Association, the Title I funding gap for school year 2020-2021 was $30.6 billion.

Similarly, IDEA calls on the federal government to fund 40 percent of the cost of special education, but Congress has never fully funded the law. According to the National Education Association, IDEA state grants are funded at less than 14 percent.

The Keep Our PACT Act would create a 10-year mandatory glide path to fully fund both Title I and IDEA, ensuring that education is a priority in the federal budget. It is supported by education, civil rights, and disability rights organizations nationwide, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), National Urban League, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of the Great City Schools, Journey for Justice Alliance, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Disability Rights Network, UnidosUS, National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and National PTA.

“Ensuring schools and communities have equitable access to resources to provide high quality learning, no matter where they are located, is a matter of justice,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “Passage of the Keep Our PACT Act would fully fund Title I and IDEA, two indispensable federal education funding mechanisms, and move us toward this goal.”

“We are proud to once again endorse the Keep Our Promise to America’s Children’s Act which fully funds the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act,” said Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association (NEA). The Keep Our PACT Act ensures that no matter the zip code, disadvantaged and student with disabilities have equal access to a well-rounded, high-quality public education. We must do right by our children and invest in their education which also strengthens our nation.”

“Passing the Keep Our PACT Act would infuse our schools with funds educators and kids need to thrive,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “With increased investment in programs like Title I and IDEA, we can provide our most vulnerable students the boost they need to succeed, breaking down barriers and giving every child the chance to shine. School leaders are ready to work with Congress to get this done.”

This press release was made possible by:

Attorney General William Tong tsought a court order forcing Stone Academy’s owners to comply with the state’s ongoing investigation into potential violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by Stone Academy.

On March 15, Attorney General Tong served Joseph Bierbaum and Richard Scheinberg with civil investigative demands seeking detailed information regarding their financial and legal interests and duties and responsibilities at Stone Academy and other for-profit education entities in Connecticut. The demand also sought information regarding where Stone Academy records are stored, as well as payroll, staffing, enrollment and attendance records. The investigative demand further sought answers from both Bierbaum and Scheinberg as to efforts they made to ensure Stone’s compliance with Connecticut Law, including their awareness or involvement in efforts to allow non-clinical assignments to count toward clinical instruction hours at Stone, efforts to ensure adequate student faculty ratios, efforts to ensure the accuracy of student transcripts, among other questions.

Bierbaum and Scheinberg failed to respond to or even acknowledge the demand by a March 29 deadline. As a result, Attorney General Tong today sought a court order forcing compliance with the CID. 

“Stone took in millions of dollars in tuition from students who spent countless hours away from their families and jobs to become nurses and advance their careers. Stone utterly failed them. What has happened to these students is a tragedy and I am beyond outraged on their behalf. We are bringing everything we’ve got to this investigation, and we are going to get to the bottom of this. If our office finds any wrongdoing, I will not hesitate to hold those responsible to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Tong.

Attorney General Tong first launched the investigation on February 23, after the nursing school abruptly closed its doors leaving students’ education plans in limbo. Attorney General Tong sent initial civil investigative demands to Stone Academy demanding detailed information and records regarding the education provided to and tuition collected from each student, the schools’ marketing practices, faculty qualifications, revenues, and accreditation materials, as well as all complaints received by the school. The demand to Stone also sought information regarding how and when the school decided to close and how that decision was communicated to students. The demand further sought detailed information as to how the school intends to reimburse students for tuition and costs, how it intends to assist students in continuing their education, and how it intends to inform students of their rights and options following the school closure.

Stone responded to the demand. The Office of the Attorney General is reviewing those records, and has conducted numerous interviews with Stone students and others connected with the school with relevant information.  

Attorney General Tong today sent a letter to Stone’s attorneys identifying several specific areas where the school’s responses appear to be incomplete or missing information.   The Office of the Attorney General is demanding full and complete responses.  

The for-profit nursing school abruptly closed its campuses in East Hartford, Waterbury and West Haven on February 15 following serious concerns regarding National Council Licensure Examination rates, faculty qualifications, and clinical training.

The Office of Higher Education, Department of Public Health and the U.S. Department of Education are all working to assist students in obtaining transcripts, tuition refunds, loan discharges, adjustments to veteran’s benefits, as well as providing support for students attempting to continue their education at other schools.

Stone had initially agreed to pay for and cooperate with an audit of its student records in order to enable students to continue with their education and begin their careers. Stone has since reneged. The state has agreed to pay for that audit, which is now underway.

If you are a Stone Academy student in need of assistance, or a Stone Academy employee with information relevant to this investigation, please provide information via the Office of the Attorney General’s online portal.

Students may also wish to contact the Office of Higher Education for assistance and guidance regarding their educational options via 860-947-1816 or ohe.pcs@ct.gov.

This press release was made possible by: