HSSK Attorneys Slossberg & Cowan Advocate for Additional Relief for Former Stone Academy Students in Legislative Testimony
03/10/2025Attorneys David Slossberg and Timothy Cowan, along with two members of the class of former Stone Academy students, Terencia Ridenhour and Shakima Glover, testified before the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee in support of Bill 7098 and Bill 7097. These bills aim to assist students affected by the abrupt closure of Stone Academy by providing financial reimbursement and additional pathways to complete their nursing educations.
Bill 7098 proposes out-of-pocket tuition reimbursement from the Student Protection Account, a state fund designed to assist students impacted by school closures. This measure seeks to ease the financial burden on former students who invested in their education only to be left without a clear path forward.
Bill 7097 focuses on expanding nursing and healthcare education opportunities, allowing affected students to continue their training through a variety of accredited programs. A key component of this bill includes the creation of a scholarship program that would not only benefit the students but also help address Connecticut’s ongoing nursing shortage by increasing the number of qualified healthcare professionals.
Slossberg and Cowan advocated that these measures will not only help students regain control of their futures but also contribute to the state’s healthcare system by ensuring more trained professionals can enter the workforce. Lawmakers are expected to continue discussions on the bills in the coming weeks.