First daughter Ivanka Trump made a surprise visit to the Norwalk Early College Academy Monday, prompting some parents who oppose the president's views to pull their kids out of school.
Trump discussed the importance of career education, something she's been pushing for at schools around the country.
"To see the passion and enthusiasm for bringing real life skills into a classroom environment but then coupling it with real life experience through internship creates this really beautiful virtuous angle," she says.
Parents say they were given little information about the visit, possibly due to security concerns.
"This should have been brought to our attention, although I do understand security reasons," says parent Karey Fitzgerald, of Norwalk. "I think we should have had the choice to send our child to school or keep them home."
IBM CEO Ginni Rometty also joined Trump at the school. IBM developed the academic model being used in the NECA program.
Students in the NECA program are earning degrees in software engineering and mobile programming. They can earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree in four years.