Mayor Ganim on Bridgeport's Education Crisis: State Funding Gaps, Community Impact, and the Fight for Equity

In this episode, Mayor Ganim talks about the state of education in Bridgeport Public Schools. From personal stories of visiting classrooms and running into former students decades later, to the hard realities of a state funding formula that has been allowed to lapse for over 10 years. He breaks down how the foundation formula works, why it has failed urban districts like Bridgeport, and what needs to change at the state level — including indexing future funding to rising costs.

 He also speaks to the role Bridgeport schools play beyond academics, supporting students and families through language barriers, social services, and character development. With a historic $10 million city-side commitment already made, he makes clear: it's now time for the state of Connecticut to step up and deliver the equitable investment Bridgeport's 20,000 students deserve.