Charlene M Russell-Tucker: Linking Classrooms to Careers Fuels Connecticut Success

A New Era of Educational Progress

For the first time in a decade, Connecticut's statewide assessment results have shown improvement across all subjects, all grades, and all student groups. This marks a significant shift in academic progress, highlighting the collective efforts of stakeholders within Connecticut's education ecosystem. These improvements reflect a commitment to ensuring that all 508,402 students are consistently in school, engaged, supported, and prepared for learning, life, and work beyond school.

This progress did not occur by chance. While there is still work to be done to surpass pre-pandemic performance levels, the state is delivering improved educational outcomes and securing better long-term opportunities for all students. This is being achieved through smart, targeted investments such as funding evidence-based literacy programs, model curricula, high-dosage tutoring, dual credit, special education, free interim tests to support instruction, and the consistent hard work of educators. Districts are deepening their use of high-quality instructional materials, strengthening engagement, and expanding career pathways—leading to measurable progress among students.

The Next Generation Accountability Index

In addition, the statewide Next Generation Accountability Index, which provides a comprehensive view of school and district performance, continued its upward trend. Gains were observed in areas essential to long-term success, including ninth-grade students being on track to graduate on time, post-secondary readiness, physical fitness, and arts participation. These results demonstrate that when we support the whole child, we create the conditions for their success.

Stronger Engagement, Better Outcomes

Better attendance leads to more consistent engagement, which is essential for academic growth. Chronic absence rates have decreased from 23.7% in 2021–22 to 17.2% last year, meaning nearly 34,000 more students are attending school regularly. This fall's October chronic absence rate—13.3%—is the strongest October rate since Connecticut began collecting monthly attendance data six years ago. These improvements span all student groups and grade levels, showcasing the impact of targeted supports, family engagement, and cross-system collaboration that remove barriers to learning.

While the year is far from over, this positive trend offers additional momentum that should encourage continued efforts.

Preparing Students for Life Beyond High School

The focus on preparing students for life beyond high school has led to the expansion of career pathways that recognize the need for high-quality options for post-secondary success. Whether in four-year colleges, two-year programs, apprenticeships, credential-based employment, or skilled-trade careers, students now have more opportunities to succeed.

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) supports districts and higher-education institutions in expanding dual-credit opportunities. Funding enables colleges and universities to partner with local schools statewide, allowing high school students to complete academic and career-oriented college-level work and earn credits. This eases their transition into higher education and the workforce.

Districts are also increasingly prioritizing pathways aligned with Gov. Ned Lamont's priority sectors: health care, manufacturing, information technology/computer science, and bio-science. Building off an $8 million investment of COVID relief funds, and thanks to the Governor and the General Assembly, the state budget now includes a dedicated line item of $6 million to sustain and expand access to dual-credit courses. This reduces future costs and accelerates progress toward an academic degree or career-oriented credential for students.

The Impact of Investments

The impact of these investments is clear. College-level courses completed in high school increased by more than 50% from 30,653 in 2018–19 to 46,344 in 2024–25, with especially strong gains among historically underrepresented student groups. More than 30% of 11th- and 12th-grade students graduated having already earned three or more college credits. Combined with strong results on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, a record 47.2% of students demonstrated post-secondary readiness last year, up from 36% in 2020-21.

With the recent release of the state's first comprehensive list of Industry Recognized Credentials (IRC), students will gain proof of workforce skills that hold value beyond high school, preparing them for immediate entry into the workforce or further education and training.

Moving Forward

The progress seen across the state is not a finish line. Connecticut remains committed to preparing every student for learning, life, and work beyond school. With a relentless focus on improving attendance, strengthening high-quality instruction, expanding post-secondary pathways, and more, the state is preparing students to build meaningful careers and strengthen the communities they call home.

When stakeholders work together with a shared commitment, collectively they can unlock the lifelong potential for every student and secure a strong, vibrant future for the state.