Connecticut

In Connecticut, the achievement gap separating students growing up in low-income communities and their peers in more affluent areas is vast. While nearly 60% of our white and affluent students in the tenth grade have the math skills and knowledge expected at their grade level, the same is true of just 20% of our students from low-income backgrounds, 20% of our Latino students, and 15% of our African American students.

The consequences of the achievement gap in Connecticut are severe. We rank last among all states in terms of job growth. We have the second highest juvenile incarceration rate for Hispanic males and the third highest rate for African American males. We spend three times more on correctional facilities than we do on higher education.

While the achievement gap in Connecticut is daunting, our region is small enough—with 190,000 students growing up in low-income communities—that we can see significant change in very little time. Teach For America is part of a growing force of change-makers gaining momentum every day. We've helped overhaul teacher evaluation systems and our alternative teacher certification program. Recent legislative changes as a result of Race to the Top and emerging programs in Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven have already shown promising progress for Connecticut's students.

We know that all kids can achieve at the highest levels and that Teach For America can play a major role in ensuring their success. We are determined to build on the foundation of our first six years to push our impact to the next level and to fuel a movement for change that becomes truly unstoppable.