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The Achievement Gap

When people speak of the "achievement gap," they’re usually referring to how well poor and minority students perform in comparison to other students. Gaps are typically measured with standardized-test scores, dropout rates, and other indicators. Connecticut, unfortunately, has repeatedly ranked as the state with the widest achievement gaps in the nation, particularly when comparing poor students with their better-off peers.

Reading Excellence and the Achievement Gap

One way to close Connecticut's worst-in-the-nation achievement gap in reading is to modernize the way we teach our children to read. A pilot program that does just that has produced some encouraging early data, according to experts who spoke on Wednesday, March 20, at a forum co-sponsored by the Commission. Video, PowerPoint slides, and more

Reading: The Engine for School Success

With Connecticut facing the largest reading gap in the nation, a panel discussion was held in Hartford on April 5, 2011 to identify what changes need to be made in the way we teach our children how to read. The Commission was one of the partners in the event, which was sponsored by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and hosted by the legislature's Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. Watch video, download documents, and more

The Achievement Gap in Connecticut and Surrounding States

This 2011 report from the legislature's non-partisan Office of Legislative Research compares how the achievement gap is defined in Connecticut and surrounding states and gives a history of Connecticut's achievement gap. Download the report (PDF, 5 pages) | OLR website

Connecticut Council for Education Reform

CCER is a statewide nonprofit organization that represents business and civic leaders who "support comprehensive education reform efforts to close the achievement gap and raise academic outcomes for all students." CCER home

Connecticut Education Data and Research (CEDaR)

A new portal created by the state Department of Education to allow users to compare data by district and school. CEDaR portal

This page was last updated: April 8, 2013