VIA EMAIL:

May 29, 2017

The Honorable Betsy DeVos U.S. Department of Education

Secretary Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg.
400 Maryland Avenue SW 400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202 Washington, DC 20202

RE: Request for US Secretary DeVos To Visit Diverse Connecticut Parents and Students -
Not Just East Hartford

Dear United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos:

My name is Ms. Gwen E. Samuel. I am the founder of the Connecticut Parents Union (CTPU), a
membership organization whereby parents, guardians and families are connected with the
educational resources and support systems necessary to protect the educational rights of all
children. We advocate to ensure that neither race, zip-code nor socio-economic status is a
predictor of a childs success.

Many Connecticut parents watched your recent testimony to the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. You highlighted the story
of a former East Hartford student named Michael who stated he was denied a safe educational
environment to learn and grow.

There will be many adult Connecticut decision makers that will tell you Michaels dangerous
daycare experience is not an accurate picture of some Connecticut schools.

Well, on behalf of the Connecticut Parents Union, we are here to say, with data to back us up,
that Michaels assessment of his educational experience is familiar with many students
throughout Connecticut. The only difference being, we as parents, wont be blaming only
poverty and students for these unsafe school environments. Connecticut has a documented
history of putting the interest of adults in education over the safety, education, and wellbeing of
our students. Connecticuts persistent lack of fiscal, program and personnel accountability within
school districts, especially within communities of color, low-income and marginalized
communities, deny so many students a fair chance at acquiring the tools needed to become
self - sufficient citizens.

An analysis of the State of Connecticut using almost any indicator of socio-economic progress
quickly reveals stark contradictions in the fortunes of its residents. Connecticut, one of the

PO Box 3004 - Meriden, Connecticut 06451

Website: www.ctparentsunion.org Tel: 203.443.3203
richest states in the nation is also home to some of the nations poorest cities; it is home to some
of the most prestigious Universities and schools in the nation, yet its academic achievement and
opportunity gap is among the highest in the nation, observable between rich and poor students,
and between white students and students of color. The socio-economically disadvantaged in
Connecticuts urban cities tend to be people of color, trapped in schools that persistently fail to
meet their need for a safe and quality education; these residents are also likely to be
underemployed, or lacking in job skills that would provide a livable wage.

Furthermore, in September of 2016, Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ruled in favor of
putting the educational rights of students over adults. In his Connecticut Coalition for Justice in
Education Funding versus former Governor M. Jodi Rell Memorandum of Decision, he outlined
the following:

We know that you have been invited to visit East Hartford schools and speak with educators but
the Connecticut Parents Union is asking that you visit with the actual consumers of education as
well diverse students and parents, throughout the state.

In closing, our future workforce the children - deserve access to safe and quality educational
opportunities regardless of their race, zip-code, or income level. One size fits all educational
systems do not work for ALL children. We thank you in advance for considering our request.

Sincerely,

Gwendolyn Samuel, President and Founder

Connecticut Parent's Union

PO Box 3004 - Meriden, Connecticut 06451

Website: www.ctparentsunion.org Tel: 203.443.3203