Results of a forensic audit into Bridgeport Public Schools’ (BPS) expenditures are still pending according to a recent update from the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). CSDE authorized the audit in May after the State Board of Education voted in January to give CSDE commissioner Charlene-Russell Tucker authority to intervene in the district.
According to CSDE, the audit will determine whether BPS’ expenditures for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years “align with adopted budgets.”
CSDE announced its intentions to commission an audit at an April 2 meeting of the state board of education.
In May, Sens. Eric Berthel and Stephen Harding sent a letter to CSDE asking for more specific information about the audit, including a timeline and goals. CSDE officials responded several days later, stating that they had contracted with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) to conduct the audit on May 9. The letter also anticipated that CLA would submit results by June 13.
A spokesperson for Senate Republicans told Inside Investigator that the caucus received a follow-up response from CSDE indicating the audit will be completed in July.
According to caucus press secretary Adam Liegot, CSDE said the extension is due to technical challenges related to secure access to BPS’ financial system. CLA is not expected to complete a draft report by July 3 and a final report by July 11.
The audit is one of several steps CSDE has taken to try and improve conditions in the district. Challenges include a $38 million budget deficit, failure to meet educational standards, and frequent leadership turnover. CSDE has deployed a technical assistance team in the district and required Bridgeport Board of Education members to undergo training “designed to improve their operational efficiency and effectiveness.”
In addition, CSDE says it has identified opportunities to “consolidate transportation payments and reduce 2024-2025 costs” and improved “timeliness and efficiency of Delta-T paraeducator placement information” and “directed the development of vacancy plans.”
As of February 2025, CSDE data shows BPS was trying to fill 26 special education teacher positions, 10 special service positions, 9 special education paraeducator positions, and 52 other positions covering all other types of teachers. Schools across the state were attempting to fill 236 special education teacher positions and 419 positions covering all types of other teachers.
BPS also has a higher rate of teacher attrition than the state average.
Across the state, the teacher retention rate was approximately 92.4 percent for the 2023-2024 school year, the last year for which data is available. In Bridgeport, that rate was 87.4 percent for the same year.
In the past months, CSDE also reports it has directed BPS to “prioritize filling certified special-educator vacancies in self-contained classrooms.”
The department has also reportedly provided technical assistance to restore Hill for Literary professional development, created a plan for a curriculum audit and adoption process for the state’s freely available model curricula, and provided several other specialized training sessions, including for special education teachers and for individualized education programs.
In the next few months, CSDE reports it “will provide support for BPS in addressing teh high number of staff vacancies, identifying cost-saving opportunities to mitigate budget deficits, developing community and family-focused engagement opportunities, and planning for summer and beginning of the year professional development.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with additional information about the audit timeline.
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