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In the News

Hamden Schools - Mediocre performance at extraordinary cost

September 7, 2010
Post-Chronicle

By George Levinson

Charter schools won't get federal jobs money

September 1, 2010
Connecticut Mirror

By Robert Frahm 

The state's allocation of federal stimulus money intended to save teaching jobs in cash-strapped school districts excluded charter schools, many of which serve students in Connecticut's poorest communities.

The experimental charter schools, along with the state's technical high schools and some public magnet schools, were left out under a formula used by the state to distribute the $110 million in stimulus funds approved by Congress in August.

Time to stop whining and make serious education reforms

August 31, 2010
Hartford Courant

By Rick Green

Maybe you saw what New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie did last week after he learned about the bungling behind his administration's failure to win $400 million in the federal Race to the Top competition that rewards states that adopt aggressive education reforms.

Christie fired his education commissioner.

Bravo. At least we know what matters to Gov. Christie, a Republican making waves across the country. That's more than I can say for Connecticut, land of timid leadership.

Hot topic: Connecticut misses out on another school reform grant

August 31, 2010
New Haven Advocate

By Betsy Yagla 

For the second time, Connecticut lost out on millions of dollars in competitive federal grants for education reform. Connecticut was not one of the 19 finalists announced in July. Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced 10 winners, among them Connecticut’s neighbors Massachusetts ($250 million), New York ($750 million) and Rhode Island ($75 million).

Hwang to receive education award tomorrow at Fairfield U.

August 30, 2010
Trumbull Times

By Donald Eng

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Media Room

Working with the Connecticut press corps.

If you’re writing a story about education in Connecticut, we’d be happy to work with you on deadline. Get in touch with ConnCAN Communications & Civic Engagement Manager Jessica Bloom: 

Office: 203-772-4017 ext. 19
Cell: 781-799-9289
Twitter: @jabloom11
 

Press Releases

 

Nation's Report Card finds CT achievement gap still country's worst
March 24, 2010

The U.S. Department of Education released its biennial “National Assessment of Educational Progress” for reading on Wednesday, and ConnCAN analysis shows that Connecticut’s achievement gap between poor students and their wealthier peers remains the largest in the nation, with poor students reading nearly three grade levels behind their wealthier peers.

Click here to download 2009 state achievement gap rankings for reading.

Two important Race to the Top bills cross major hurdle, one is left behind
March 24, 2010

 The Connecticut legislature’s education committee passed two critical Race to the Top bills regarding Connecticut’s system for certifying and evaluating teachers and principals, but let another bill to fix the funding system for charter schools go without a vote.

Two days before deadline, ConnCAN analyzes need for new teacher, principal laws
March 22, 2010

Two days before the deadline for the legislature’s Education Committee to pass two critical bills regarding Connecticut’s system for certifying and evaluating teachers and principals, the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) releases a new paper detailing the broken system and underscoring the need for change.

Click here to download ConnCAN’s new issue brief, “Teachers, Principals & Race to the Top.”

Monday, March 15: Major Race to the Top Bills Receive Hearing Before Education Committee
March 15, 2010

On Monday, March 15 at 3:30 p.m., the education committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a public hearing on three major bills to make Connecticut competitive in the second round of Race to the Top that will measure the effectiveness of educators and their training programs and sustainably fund charter schools.

ConnCAN CEO Alex Johnston, Connecticut Charter School Association President Michael Sharpe will join parents, students, principals and community members in providing public testimony.

Race to the Top Round 2 looking up as lawmakers introduce key school reform bills
March 10, 2010

Less than a week after Connecticut was rejected from Round 1 of Race to the Top, lawmakers introduced a suite of trailblazing legislation that would make Connecticut competitive in the second round of the Race.

H.B. 5493, “An act concerning strategic planning in state education policy and charter school funding” would eliminate the use of the annual state appropriation process to fund charter schools and adopt a “money follows the child” funding mechanism instead phased in over several years.

Lawmakers act quickly with first step towards Race to the Top success
March 8, 2010

Just days after Connecticut was rejected from round one of Race to the Top, the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) applauds lawmakers for taking the first concrete step to boost Connecticut’s competitiveness for the Race to the Top by introducing a bill to establish alternative certification pathways for school administrators.

Connecticut leaves 120 blanks in Race to the Top application
February 22, 2010

A new analysis released today by the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), reveals that Connecticut left 120 blanks in its Round 1 Race to the Top application, underscoring the need for lawmakers to pass reforms to improve the state’s standing before Round 2.

Download ConnCAN’s new analysis, “Race to the Top Round 1: Leaving it Blank.”

ConnCAN launches “Our Race to the Top” legislative campaign
January 19, 2010

On the same day that Connecticut’s education commissioner is submitting the state’s Round 1 application for the federal government’s $4 billion “Race to the Top,” the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) launched a campaign urging public officials to make the reforms necessary for Connecticut to be truly competitive.

ConnCAN grades 1,000+ Connecticut public schools A through F
December 21, 2009

The Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) today released its 2009-2010 School Report Cards, assigning letter grades to over 1,000 Connecticut public schools and 160 school districts based on their students‚ academic performance in four categories.

Click here to view the School Report Cards.

Using the data from the School Report Cards, ConnCAN also released the Top 10 Connecticut public schools in 14 categories.

Report presents major financial reforms to fix Connecticut’s dysfunctional education funding system
November 23, 2009

The Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) and education research firm Public Impact today released a groundbreaking report tracing the flow of funds through Connecticut’s public schools and offering a more rational system that will close that state’s yawning achievement gap.

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