Gov. Dannel Malloy kicked off his education reform tour Thursday night at the Center for Community Life in Hartford.
Around 100 people packed the small room to listen to and question Malloy about his $128 million plan to reform the state's education system.
"Number one, we need to admit we have a problem," the governor told the crowd of teachers, parents and educators.
He wants to fix under-performing schools, improve early childhood education and reform teacher tenure, among other things.
It was the topic of the state's takeover of the Bridgeport School Board that sparked the sharpest exchange.
“It’s not your decision to take that away from the people of Bridgeport or any other municipality in the state,” said Maria Pereira, who was on the board.
Malloy responded by saying, “Your school board basically threw up their hands and ran away.”
Some teachers pushed back on the plan to reform tenure.
"Tenure is not the reason our schools are struggling," teacher Christine Ladd told the governor. "Many students in urban and poor districts come to school hungry, without proper medical care or a safe place to live."
On Friday morning, Malloy is on MSNBC's Morning Joe Friday, taking part in the show's special on education which will originate from Fort Lee, New Jersey.
The next stop on his education tour will be in West Hartford on March 6.
