Education
It is crucial everyone has access to high-quality education - at all levels. As a former teacher, Representative Larson knows the importance of education and is working to ensure every student has access to what they need to succeed. Congressman Larson has consistently received an “A” rating from the National Education Association.
Pre-Kindergarten
During Rep. Larson's time in the Connecticut State Senate, he worked with Dr. Ed Zigler, a visionary fighting for education and families regarded as the “father of Head Start.” Rep. Larson has been an avid supporter of Head Start in Connecticut. In Congress, he has consistently supported increased funding for, and expansion of Head Start programs. Rep. Larson's legislation creating a pilot for Family Resource Centers, which were eventually expanded across the state, was based on Dr. Zigler's model for "school-based or school-linked childcare and family support services designed to promote the optimal growth and development of children beginning at birth." Last year, his bill to create a pathway for Family Resource Centers to directly receive federal funding was signed into law by President Biden.
Research shows the best way to lay a strong foundation for learning is giving students access to pre-kindergarten. All students benefit from starting school earlier, but the impacts are particularly pronounced for lower-income students. Universal Pre-K is a necessary tool to lower the achievement gap. Rep. Larson worked with his colleagues to write legislation in the Ways and Means Committee to fund universal Pre-K across the country for all children as part of Build Back Better. Thanks to this effort, Universal Pre-K passed out of the House of Representatives for the first time. Rep. Larson is continuing to champion increased access to early childhood education.
When COVID threatened Connecticut’s essential childcare workers, Rep. Larson took action. Through his work on the Ways and Means Committee, he helped write the American Rescue Plan to provide a lifeline to working families and childcare workers. The American Rescue Plan:
Increased the Child Care and Development Tax Credit for 2021 by up to $2,200 per child.
Provided $106 million to Connecticut for childcare subsidies for low-income families with children.
Provided $169 million to Connecticut in grants to early childhood educators and family childcare providers were able to keep their doors open.
K-12 Schools
Our future depends on maintaining rigorous standards and ensuring equal access to a quality education for all children. Rep. Larson is fighting to ensure the federal government supports all students, parents, and teachers.
Throughout his career, Rep. Larson has recognized that our students deserve quality schools that prepare their future careers. Even before his career in Congress, in 1996, Larson created and chaired ConneCT ‘96, a project to connect all Connecticut schools and libraries to the Internet, ensuring all students were receiving digital literacy training and education.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Rep. Larson recognized that schools needed resources to get kids back to the classroom and back on track. Rep. Larson helped pass COVID relief bills, including the American Rescue Plan, that provided $1.7 billion to Connecticut, $303.5 million for First District K-12 Schools and $371.4 million for Connecticut Higher Education institutions. This funding ensured that schools had the resources they needed to reopen safely and support students dealing with learning loss and social isolation.
In 2023, Rep. Larson helped pass $20 million in increased federal funding for Title I schools and state grants for special education. This funding was a needed boost for our most vulnerable students, but our schools, and special education in particular, continue to face underfunding. Congressman Larson has been a leader in the fight for the federal government to fully fund its obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Rep. Larson has championed the IDEA Full Funding Act because our classrooms, teachers and children deserve each of these promised federal dollars.
Teachers are the backbone of our society, educating our children and providing guidance and care. As a society, we must do more to acknowledge the essential role teachers have in our lives. Rep. Larson worked with Rep. Jahana Hayes to introduce the RAISE Act to increase teacher pay and invest in educator recruitment and retention. Addressing the teacher pay gap will help ensure our teachers have the resources they need to succeed and support their students.
Standing Up to the Trump Administration
Rep. Larson is standing up to the Trump Administration’s attacks on our schools. In 2017, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos testified before Congress and included a characterization of East Hartford Public Schools as “dangerous daycare”. Congressman Larson rallied the East Hartford community and pushed back against Secretary DeVos’ mischaracterization of East Hartford High School (EHHS). He made multiple public statements of his support for, and history with East Hartford Public Schools and wrote two letters to the Secretary inviting her to visit the district and schools as his guest, which were never answered. He also delivered letters written by EHHS students to the Department of Education.
In this current term, President Trump is actively dismantling the Department of Education and playing games with congressionally appropriated funds. Attempting to shutter the Department of Education throws funding into chaos for special education, low-income schools, student aid, and resources that reach every school district. Rep. Larson helped introduce the Department of Education Protection Act, which blocks the Administration from dismantling or significantly redirecting the funding or mission of these agencies on their own.
Rep. Larson fought back in July of 2025, when the Department of Education informed local school districts that nearly $54 million in funding for Connecticut in Congressionally appropriated funding would need to be “reviewed” before being delivered. After uniting with more than 100 other Democrats demanding that this impoundment be released, the Administration relented a portion of the funding. Rep. Larson joined Democrats once again urging senior appropriators to push the Trump Administration even harder and ultimately, all the funding was released within weeks.
Rep. Larson at a Boys & Girls Club in Hartford
Affording a College or Technical Education
Higher education costs have skyrocketed, putting college out of reach for some and saddling others with decades of student debt. Rep. Larson has supported numerous efforts to forgive student debt and cut college costs, including the Pell Grant Sustainability Act, to ensure aid for low-income students keeps pace with inflation, and he has supported Congressional efforts to double the grants annual amount. Rep. Larson is a cosponsor of the Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act so married couples can each receive up to $2,500 in student loan interest deductions- doubling the current deduction.
To support students considering a trade school or certificate program, Congressman Larson proudly supports the bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Ac to expand the use of 529 account funds to pay for post-secondary training programs.
Rep. Larson believes that national volunteer service should be encouraged and enhanced by helping reduce college costs. Since 2017, he has introduced the ACTION for National Service Actwhich would increase funding for national service positions such as Americorps and would reward volunteers giving those who serve two full terms of service with four years of average in-state tuition. To further encourage service and help student borrowers, Rep. Larson has also introduced the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act that would make any AmeriCorps Education grants tax free.
Taking on Student Debt
Rep. Larson has been an outspoken advocate for student loan forgiveness. Nearly 43 million Americans have student loan debt, totaling around $1.6 trillion, the largest amount of consumer debt in the United States of America outside of mortgages. This negatively impacts students, graduates and their families, as well as the entire economy. During the Biden Administration, Rep. Larson called on the President to take action to forgive up to $50,000 in student debt per borrower and supported expanded student loan forgiveness, especially for public servants.
As Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, he led efforts to pass legislation creating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, so first responders, nurses, and educators can have their loans forgiven in exchange for serving their communities. During the Biden Administration, $188.8 billion in student debt was forgiven for 5.3 million borrowers.
Due to President Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ many student loan repayment options will change starting in July of 2026. Please visit StudentAid.gov for the most up to date information.
More on Education
East Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced Southington High School student Emma Kieltyka as the winner of this year’s Congressional Art Competition for Connecticut’s First District, for her self-portrait, Metamorphosis.
East Hartford, CT – Today, the Connecticut Congressional delegation announced their offices will host an informational session for Connecticut high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors to learn more about the process to apply for the Military Service Academies.
Connecticut Education Association leaders are in Washington, D.C., today, sending a strong message to Congress about the need to repeal two federal laws that strip teachers and other public servants of hard-earned Social Security benefits and are a barrier to recruiting and retention efforts.
In recent years, the intersection of student loan debt and retirement security has become an increasingly pressing issue for millions of older Americans. With outstanding student debt among seniors reaching unprecedented levels, concerns are mounting about the potential impact on Social Security benefits, a critical lifeline for many retirees.
A startling number of seniors can't collect their full Social Security benefits because they defaulted on student loan payments, prompting lawmakers to call for a halt to this practice.
SOUTH WINDSOR — As a teen who loves technology and video games but struggles with procrastination, South Windsor High School senior Ryan Duong found a way to use his passion to solve his problem.
Ryan, 17, created an app called "ClockIn!," a program that allows users to schedule out their tasks.
Connecticut will receive federal funding to purchase 50 electric school buses for two school districts as the Biden administration continues rolling out its infrastructure plans.