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Education Week Gives Connecticut A C+

By Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

January 11, 2013

The chances of Connecticut students succeeding when they leave high school are among the best in the nation, and the state spends more for each student than almost every other state after factoring in the region's higher cost of living, according to a national report card released this week by Education Week.

The state also has more children attending preschool and more fourth graders reading proficiently than almost every state.

But the 19-page report card from the nonpartisan national news organization wasn't full of good grades.

Connecticut has one of the highest rates of adults not working full time, year round. The state also has some of the largest differences in student achievement when comparing students from low-income families to their classmates.

Connecticut has one of the worst grades for holding its schools accountable, earning a 68 percent. While most states provide rewards to high-performing or improving schools, Connecticut does not. The state also lags behind most states in having state sanctions for low-performing schools.

The report also says that the state fails to evaluate teacher preparation programs and check up on how their graduates perform in the classroom. The state also lacks incentives to get teachers into high-need schools, provide professional development and provide incentives for teachers to get national board certification.

Here is the link to a snapshot of how the state is doing. The complete report on Connecticut is available here behind a pay wall. The state's overall grade is a C+, ranking Connecticut 15th best in the country by Education Week's Standards. Last year the state was given in 16th place.

Maryland ranked highest in the news organizations ratings, earning a B+.