In interviews, Dr. Cardona has emphasized his parents’ Puerto Rican roots and his upbringing in Meriden’s public housing and education system as experiences that have anchored his career. In the task force’s 2014 report, he wrote that “addressing the achievement disparities in Connecticut is more than just our moral obligation. It makes fiscal sense,” citing that the costs of remediation and incarceration were greater than the cost of educating students. Dr. Cardona has emerged as an urgent voice pressing to reopen schools safely during the pandemic — one of the most immediate challenges facing Mr. Biden as the president-elect prioritizes reopening schools within 100 days of taking office. Last week, Dr. Cardona wrote an opinion piece thanking educators for their commitment to students during the pandemic.

Source: New York Times December 22, 2020 14:37 UTC