Thursday will be sunny and mild and the holiday weekend will bring temperatures in the 70s to near 80 degrees.

Thursday will be breezy with sunny skies and milder temperatures, which will be in the high-50s to low-60s.

Friday will bring passing clouds and milder temps, with highs getting into the middle 60s.

Then it warms up Saturday. It will be partly sunny with high temperatures in the 70s to near 80 degrees!

Easter Sunday looks like a day with fair skies and high temperature in the middle 60s.

CONNECTICUT — State education officials have reaffirmed the state’s commitment to civil rights protections while declining to sign a newly issued federal Title VI certification form, arguing that the state already complies fully with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and continues to receive federal education funds under existing assurances.

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education dated April 15, Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker wrote that Connecticut “remains committed to safeguarding Connecticut students against the insidious effects of discrimination” and that the state has consistently certified its compliance with Title VI through federally accepted procedures.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights had issued a “Reminder of Legal Obligations” to state education departments on April 3, requesting that states sign and return a new compliance certification form within 10 days. The request also asked for reports on the signature status of local districts and any compliance or enforcement actions under consideration.

Connecticut’s response stated that no additional certification was necessary, as the state has long met federal obligations through required annual assurances and the approved Consolidated State Plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

The reminder also raised concerns about the legality of some diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, though it did not define what constitutes a noncompliant practice. In its response, Connecticut challenged the ambiguity of the DEI references and defended the use of such initiatives, noting that “the USDOE itself has long supported these important principles.”

Russell-Tucker emphasized that Connecticut’s 508,000 students are served by programs that align with federal antidiscrimination laws and highlighted initiatives like the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP) to reduce absenteeism and expand opportunity.

The state joins a growing list of jurisdictions pushing back on recent federal inquiries into civil rights compliance. In March, California’s Department of Education similarly declined to adopt the new certification form, citing legal concerns and long-standing adherence to Title VI requirements. New York and Illinois also expressed hesitation, requesting further clarification on how the new form would be used and enforced.

Connecticut officials said they would continue to support inclusive educational environments and meet federal civil rights standards without adopting new or duplicative reporting frameworks.

The man who police say was held captive in his Connecticut home for more than two decades is speaking out, saying in a public statement on Tuesday that he is “much better and stronger” after his rescue.

Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was arrested in March after Waterbury police said she held her 32-year-old stepson in captivity and subjected him to “prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment.” She has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment.

The stepson, who identified himself only as S, said in the statement that he was “choosing a new name for himself.”

“Please call me ‘S.’ This is not the name given to me by my parents when I was born … I will use that name as I reclaim control over my life and my future,” the man said in a statement posted on Facebook by his representation, David Gaurino of Survivors Say.

Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury set up a GoFundMe to help S with medical and dental care, as well as legal fees and housing expenses.

Here’s what else S had to say.

S: ‘I am much better and stronger’

In the statement posted on Facebook, the man said he was a survivor of more than two decades of abuse after being taken out of school in the fourth grade when he was 11 and held against his will until he was 32.

He was freed by firefighters after he managed to set his house on fire back in February.

While being treated, the stepson told first responders that he intentionally set the fire in his upstairs room using a lighter, hand sanitizer and paper, stating: “I wanted my freedom,” police said.

“I am speaking out today to begin the process of reclaiming my life and to have my say in how my story is told,” he said in Tuesday’s statement. “I am much better and stronger than I was the day the first responders carried me out of my home.”

Photos: Disarray in Connecticut home where police say woman held stepson captive

Police: A long time of abuse

Waterbury police’s investigation determined that the stepson was found in a “severely emaciated condition” and had not received medical or dental care throughout his captivity, the department said. Investigators also concluded that the man had been given “minimal amounts of food and water,” which contributed to him being extremely malnourished, police said.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by USA TODAY, upon exiting the home, the stepson’s hair was matted, “he was very dirty,” and all of his teeth were rotten. The stepson told police officers that Sullivan was able to keep him locked inside his bedroom because there was a lock on the outside of his door, the warrant continued.

In Tuesday’s statement, S said that “much has already been said that tells part of the story of the abuse I endured.”

“Someday, perhaps my whole story will be told.”

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.