Governor Dannel P. Malloy has called 2012 "The Year of Education Reform," and ; however, it may turn out that 2012 becomes "The Year of Action in the Name of Business Interests."
The Hartford Business Journal reported Thursday that a non-profit group "representing business interests in Connecticut's education reform debate" recently received a hefty donation, adding a significant amount of weight behind the group's lobby.
The magazine reported that the group, the Connecticut Council for Education Reform (led by former Hartford Financial Services CEO Ramani Ayer and former NewAlliance Bank Chief Peyton Patterson, among others) recently received a gift of $3 million from First Niagara.
It's notable that First Niagara bought NewAlliance when Patterson was heading the bank.
The Connecticut Council for Education Reform released a list of its educational priorities, which included the development of a state-funded preschool system for low-income families.
Read more, including the Council's full list of priorities, on HartfordBusiness.com.