Connecticut
Connecticut lawmakers looking at reforms to DCF, homeschooling
Lawmakers say they’re working on reforms to a child welfare agency that’s been in the spotlight for the past 12 months.
Rep. Corey Paris (D-Stamford), who co-chairs the Children’s Committee, said that the reform package could include training, oversight, and even more funding for staffing and resources.
“When the state steps into a family’s life, the bar has to be set extraordinarily high and right now, quite frankly, there are places where we need to do better,” Paris said Friday.
The legislature begins its session on Wednesday.
His comments came as the mother and aunt of Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia had court dates this week, both charged in Connecticut with the death of the 11-year-old girl.
New Britain police found her remains in October, but believe she may have been dead for as long as a year before that.
DCF had been monitoring Torres-Garcia, raising questions about whether it had done enough to protect her.
That incident came roughly eight months after a 32-year-old man named “S” claimed he started a fire in his Waterbury home to bring attention to decades of neglect and abuse.
He and his family also had contact with DCF.
Sen. Jonathan Perillo, (R-Shelton), agrees with Paris that lawmakers need to look at reforms.
He wants to see an end to virtual visits, an issue in Torres-Garcia’s case.
Both lawmakers said they’re talking with DCF about what other changes are needed to avoid similar occurrences.
Paris was vague on details, though, saying he’s still trying to build a consensus with Republicans, advocates, and DCF.
The lawmakers said the problem is deeper than the two high-profile incidents.
A state auditor’s report in June raised concern that DCF lost track of children 3,700 times between fiscal years 2021 and 2023.
Lawmakers could also look at more oversight of homeschool families.
Many states require homeschool families to bring their children for an annual visit to a local school, checking in with a mandatory reporter. Connecticut does not.
Interim Child Advocate Christina Ghio renewed calls in March to change that, saying abusive families can minimize contact with mandatory reporters by claiming they are homeschooling their children.
That’s what happened when Matthew Tirado died in 2017, and that allegedly happened in the case of “S.”
Rep. Jennifer Leeper (D-Fairfield), who co-chairs the Education Committee, said lawmakers are looking into the issue, though no proposal has been drafted yet.
She said she’s trying to find a balance, but she wants to ensure that state laws ensure children are safe and are getting a quality education.
“Almost every other state has a more robust system to ensure children’s both well-being and also educational attainment and that those families, too, are enjoying a really meaningful and flexible and self-directed homeschooling experience,” she said.
Perillo said the legislature should focus on DCF reforms.
“DCF is the authority here, and DCF has been the home of systemic problems for decades,” he said.
Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
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Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
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