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October 21, 2024

State disburses $10M in healthcare assistance for 7,000 paraeducators

CTMIRROR.ORG FILE PHOTO State Comptroller Sean Scanlon
By David Krechevsky

The state is providing $10 million to school districts statewide to help more than 7,000 paraeducators afford health insurance.

State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said Monday that 156 school districts statewide will share in the funding. 

“Through this program, we are helping our cities and towns keep more paraeducators in the classroom and making sure our kids get the quality education they deserve,” Scanlon said. 

Paraeducators directly support both teachers and students. The program was established as part of the 2023-24 biennium budget, and in 2023 more than 4,100 paraeducators received assistance, averaging $1,185.

Under the program, about 4,000 paraeducators enrolled in a high deductible health plan with a health savings account (HSA) who are employed by a local or regional school district are eligible for a one-time stipend, Scanlon said. In addition, a newly eligible population of about 3,000 paraeducators will receive just over 7% of their healthcare premium costs if they are enrolled in a traditional, premium-based plan, he said.

The largest amount of assistance was disbursed to Stamford Public Schools, which received $534,916.59 to help 372 paraeducators. New Haven Public Schools received the second-largest amount, $375,324.97, to assist 187 paraeducators. Bridgeport ($357,153), Fairfield ($330,648) and Trumbull ($281,755) public schools rounded out the top five. Hartford was sixth at just over $280,000.

The funding was deposited into school district bank accounts last week. Paraeducators who qualify for assistance should expect to see a deposit in their HSA or a lowering of their premium cost in the coming weeks, Scanlon said.

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