CCER’s Progress Report: We Must Do More In 2015
New Haven, Connecticut – Today, December 11th, the Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER) released its 2014 Policy Progress Report. The report uses a rating system to track the state’s progress in effecting the changes needed to narrow Connecticut’s widest-in-the-nation achievement gap and raise academic outcomes for all children.
According to Jeffrey Villar, Executive Director of CCER, “Last year’s report charted the tremendous progress that had been made over the last few years. But this year’s report shows that progress has slowed. The complex and difficult work of transforming Connecticut’s schools and narrowing the achievement gap requires our firm resolve and continued commitment to improving student achievement. CCER stands ready to assist our school districts as they engage in this important work.”
Some of the findings in the report are that Connecticut should:
- Intervene earlier, as soon as students start falling behind;
- Broaden its leadership pool by developing Alternate Routes to Certification;
- Better prepare new teachers, especially to work with low-income students;
- Do more to reward and retain effective teachers;
- Create a more transparent and fair funding system for the state;
- Give the School Turnaround Office more autonomy and hold it more accountable; and
- Develop a longitudinal data system to drive informed decision-making.
To view the full report and rubrics, click here.
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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
