CCER: CT’s Increased Graduation Rate Shows Narrowing of Achievement Gap
New Haven, Connecticut – Today, on May 14th, 2014, Governor Malloy and Commissioner Pryor announced that Connecticut’s high school graduation rate has increased for four consecutive years. In response, Jeffrey Villar, executive director of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER) made this statement:
“We are pleased to learn that Connecticut’s graduation rate is continuously improving. According to Governor Malloy’s office, the statewide average graduation rate has increased by 3.7 percent since 2010. The graduation gap between students from low-income families and their peers has been reduced by 17.5 percent over the same period. It is essential that we continue this progress. There are too many low-income children and children of color who don’t graduate from high school. Students who drop out of school earn less than college graduates, each cost the state more than $500,000 across their lifetimes, are more likely to be incarcerated, and become part of an unskilled labor force in Connecticut.
“In Connecticut, failure to graduate from high school is a particularly serious issue for children from low-income families. It is essential that we make sure that every child is college or career ready, and graduating high school is a critical step in that process.
“That’s why we are also excited to learn that the graduation gap for low-income students has also been reduced over the last four years. We believe it is both a moral and an economic imperative to narrow gaps in achievement and raise academic outcomes for all students.
“While these four consecutive years of increased graduation rates are promising, there’s still a lot of work left to do.”
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About the Connecticut Council for Education Reform
The Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER)–a statewide, non-partisan, 501(c)(3) not- for-profit organization–works to close the achievement gap and raise academic outcomes for all students in Connecticut. The achievement gap is the disparity in academic achievement between children from low-income families and children of color, and their peers. We advocate for state policies and local practices that research shows have the best chance of raising achievement for high-need student populations.
For more information on CCER, go to www.ctedreform.org
