As the school year starts, budget battles loom

The Wheelhouse

As the school year starts, budget battles loom

By Frankie Graziano,

Published August 25, 2025 at 7:15 AM EDT

FILE: Pencils and pipe cleaners for crafts rest in cups at the 黑料新闻 State University Early Learning Center on March 12, 2025.

Beginning on September 1, Congress will race to finalize the federal budget before the September 30 deadline. And 黑料新闻鈥檚 schools are feeling the ripple effects of funding uncertainty.

Today on "The Wheelhouse," we talk with educators about the challenges and concerns heading into the new school year.

Plus, we take a close look at one 黑料新闻 district experimenting with a year-round calendar. Tune in to hear what this means for students, families, and teachers.

GUESTS:

Kate Dias, president of the
Fran Rabinowitz, executive director,
Lisa Hagan, federal policy reporter, CT Mirror and CT Public
Cynthia Ritchie, superintendent of schools,

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The Wheelhouse

Frankie Graziano

Frankie Graziano is the host of 'The Wheelhouse,' focusing on how local and national politics impact the people of 黑料新闻.

See stories by Frankie Graziano

Chloe Wynne

Chloe Wynne is a producer for 'The Wheelhouse' and 'Where We Live.' She previously worked as a producer and reporter for the investigative podcast series, 'Admissible: Shreds of Evidence,' which was co-produced by VPM and Story Mechanics and distributed by iHeartRadio. She began her journalism career at inewsource, an investigative newsroom in San Diego, Calif., where she covered housing, education and crime. She earned her master鈥檚 degree from Columbia Journalism School in 2021, where she focused on audio storytelling.

See stories by Chloe Wynne