National Test Results Show Reforms Are Working in CT
New Haven, Connecticut – On May 7th, 2014, Connecticut received promising news about its results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP, sometimes known as “the Nation’s Report Card,” allows states to compare results, while also reporting on states’ progress in narrowing gaps.
In response to the results released today, Jeffrey Villar, executive director of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER) made this statement:
“We saw particularly promising progress in 12th Grade Math and Reading. Overall, our twelfth graders topped the nation in both of these subjects, coming in first place for Reading and performing impressively in Math.
“Students who do not come from low-income families scored particularly well in these subjects as compared to their peers in other states. But what is especially exciting is that Connecticut’s low-income students are also showing improvement. This means that we are steadily raising achievement for all students, regardless of socio-economic status. When we compare our progress to that of other states, we can see that we’re headed in the right direction.
“However, despite this progress, Connecticut continues to have the widest gap in the nation in these subjects. While all of our students are improving, we still have a lot of work to do. We need to find ways to make our education system fairer, so that it provides all students with the opportunity to succeed—and low-income students with the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.
“Over the last few years, Connecticut has adopted many of CCER’s recommendations. Connecticut has increased the capacity to lead reform within the State Department of Education, reformed teacher tenure, created an impressive evaluation and support system for educators, and built a framework for intervention in the lowest-performing schools and districts. This session, we have defended and continued that progress, while also expanding the types of opportunities and infrastructure that will improve early childhood education. And our state now has solid proof that these efforts to improve public education are working.
“As the 2014 legislative session comes to a close, I am so pleased that Governor Malloy’s administration and Connecticut’s General Assembly have continued to make education reform a priority. Our students deserve nothing less.”
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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
