Rep. Andrew Fleischmann Renamed Chair of House Education Committee

State Rep. Andrew Fleischmann (D-West Hartford) has been tapped by House Speaker Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) to continue to serve as the chairman of the Education Committee for the upcoming Legislative Session that convened on Jan. 9, 2013.

"Rep. Fleischmann's work as chair of the Education Committee is widely respected and I want him to continue to work on closing the achievement gap and other reforms to help move out education system forward," said House Speaker Sharkey. "Andrew's dedication and willingness to take on tough challenges makes him a perfect choice."

The Education Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Education; local and regional boards of education and the substantive law of collective bargaining covering teachers and professional employees of such boards; vocational rehabilitation; the Commission on the Arts; and libraries, museums and historical and cultural associations.

"I’m honored to have been appointed Chairman of the Education Committee by Speaker Sharkey,” Fleischmann said.  “Last year, we enacted sweeping education reforms that reflected input from all key educational stakeholders.  This year, I will be working to ensure that, from preschool through high school, we ensure quality and the best possible results for all Connecticut children.  And, given December’s tragedy in Newtown, I will also be working with colleagues to ensure we take all steps possible to make our schoolchildren as safe as they can possibly be.”

Speaker Sharkey also asked Rep. Fleischmann to serve as the Elementary Education Subcommittee Chair on the powerful Appropriations Committee, which manages the budgets of state agencies.

Rep. Fleischmann has been representing the 18th Assembly District since 1995. He has led efforts on a number of major education reform measures, including empowering the State Education Commissioner to reorganize failing schools and school districts, bringing Teach for America to Connecticut, and modifying the teacher certification system to make it easier for great school teachers, principals, and superintendents to transfer to Connecticut. Last year, he helped lead the effort to enact sweeping education reforms to ensure that all of Connecticut’s children have access to a top quality education that prepares them for the 21st century workplace.

Submitted by the Office of Rep. Andrew Fleischmann.