Our Mission
To assist local and regional boards of education in providing high quality public education for all Connecticut children through effective leadership.
Our Vision
CABE is passionate about strengthening public education to inspire success for each child through high-performing, transformative local leadership teams comprised of school boards and superintendents.
Our Members
CABE represents nearly all boards of education across Connecticut. School boards are comprised of citizens, elected or appointed, who work with their superintendents to provide the best education possible in their communities. They devote countless volunteer hours to provide leadership and oversight, and connect the will of the community to the education of its children.
We Do This Through:
Professional Development
Professional development provided throughout the year on topics board members need to be knowledgeable of. More Info
Policy
Supporting boards to establish and maintain policy, a board's foremost responsibility, is a primary mission of CABE's Policy Services. More Info
Advocacy
We advocate CABE's possitions in all legislative and regulatory arenas. More Info
CABE's Day on the Hill - 2016
CABE’s annual Day on the Hill provides an opportunity for school board members, superintendents, students, school business officials and other community members to learn about the issues facing the General Assembly, hear from legislative leaders, and advocate for public education. Listen to remarks from some of the attendees in 2016 and plan to join us in 2017.
The Real Story: Education spending cuts - FOX 61 News
HARTFORD - Concerns about possible spending cuts in education, to balance the state budget are discussed with guests Patrice McCarthy of the CT Association of Boards of Education and Joseph Cirasuolo of the CT Association of Public School Superintendents.
Supporting LGBT Youth: Their Journey in Our Schools
On October 5, 2015, the Connecticut Association of Schools, in collaboration with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education and the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, hosted a half-day workshop entitled "Supporting LGBT Youth: Their Journey in Our Schools." Regional and national experts shared strategies for building LGBT-inclusive school communities. The event opened with remarks from Pat Griffin, founding director of Changing the Game, and closed with a panel discussion involving local building/district leaders and students.
Astronaut Rick Mastracchio Stands Up 4 CT Public Schools
NASA Astronaut Rick Mastracchio, a Waterbury native, has logged nearly 40 days in space and is a veteran of three space flights.
Mr. Mastracchio referred to his days at Crosby High School in Waterbury, CT, where he said it was his science and math teachers who inspired him to one day become an Astronaut.
A graduate of Crosby High School's class of 1978, he then went on to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science from the University of Connecticut in 1982, as well as several other degrees after that.
Pat Luke Stands Up 4 CT Public Schools
Pat Luke, who has served as a member of the State Board of Education, CABE president, NSBA Director, and CABE Senior Staff Associate for Government Relations, has agreed to serve as CABE’s second Stand Up for Public Education representative.
Pat was CABE’s 1998 Friend of Public Education Award recipient. NSBA and state associations, including CABE with the support of CAPSS, have launched an initiative to help dispel continuous negative public discourse about our schools.
According to Patrice McCarthy, “Pat has long been a mentor to me in my work. I can think of few people who exhibit the thoughtfulness, breadth of experience and commitment to public education that Pat has. When it comes to these characteristics, Pat is in a class by herself.”
The Connecticut Lighthouse Project
The Connecticut Lighthouse Project is a joint effort of the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. The foundation of the program was developed by the Iowa School Boards Association and is based on several years of extensive research to determine what constitutes effective practice by boards of education.
Original Lighthouse Study 1998-2000
The projectThe original project started in 1998 when a team from the Iowa School Boards Association, with funding by the Iowa School Boards Foundation and a federal grant developed a research project to see how school boards affected student achievement.
The focus of the study was to determine:
- Do school boards really make a difference in student achievement?
- Are they too far removed from classroom action to impact how well all students learn?
The group analyzed student achievement data for all Georgia school districts to see whether or not a correlation could be made between the work of boards of education and improved student achievement. They analyzed districts with high achievement and similar districts with low achievement. These districts were similar in socio-economic status, district size and type of district.
This research project became one of the first and only studies that made a credible research –based connection between the work of the school board and levels of student achievement. It has been referenced countless times as people try to identify the characteristics of good board leadership.
Don't forget about the CABE/CAPSS Convention!