Secondary School Reform in Connecticut
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"We have a responsibility to our children to prepare them for the demands of the 21st Century. Outdated structures and approaches in our high schools must be replaced with engaging, content-rich experiences that will enable our students to achieve at higher levels and to compete successfully in the world economy."
Mark K. McQuillan
Commissioner of Education |
The State Department of Education has begun the process to reform Connecticut's secondary schools and bring to students new supports, new experiences and more rigorous graduation requirements.
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Connecticut's Proposal for Reform
(Brochure) [pdf] 478KB
(Raised Bill No.944)
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Facts about High School Education
Key Elements of the Reform
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Capstone Projects
What is a Capstone Project?
Capstone Projects in Connecticut High Schools
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Student Success Plans
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Student Support/School Environment
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Resources
What Other States are Doing
Achieve is an independent, bipartisan, non-profit education reform organization based in Washington, D.C. that helps states raise academic standards and graduation requirements, improve assessments and strengthen accountability.
Colorado
NEW COLORADO STANDARDS FOCUS ON COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE READINESS — The Colorado State Board of Education and the state’s Higher Education Commission took broad steps toward aligning secondary and post-secondary education standards. The move was made as part of a three-year transformation of Colorado’s education system that will also include a new testing system to evaluate students’ knowledge of the standards, possible elimination of the Colorado Student Assessment Program, and altering high school diplomas to include an honors diploma that indicates college prep courses taken by students. Detailed standards for each grade are also expected to be adopted by the State Board of Education by the end of the year. Source: Denver Post (7/1/2009)
It’s an exciting time for education reform in Delaware and across the nation. The planets are aligned. The time is right.
Reform in the middle grades has led to the increased interest in high school reform.
Task Force Recommends Integration of 21st Century Skills Throughout K12 System
To ensure Michigan's students have the skills and knowledge needed for the jobs of the 21st Century global economy, on April 20, 2006, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed into law a rigorous new set of statewide graduation requirements that are among the best in the nation.
Graduation Requirements - A proposal for new high school graduation requirements has been approved by the New Jersey state board. The proposal includes the phase-in of additional requirements in mathematics, science and economics, and financial literacy. Following a 60-day public comment period, the updated graduation requirements could receive final passage as early as June.
Texas
MEASURES TOUGHEN GRAD REQUIREMENTS, CUTS THIRD-GRADE EXAM — Gov. Rick Perry approved a new accountability system for Texas schools that includes tougher graduation requirements, new college-readiness indicators, eliminates a mandate that 3rd graders had to pass the state's TAKS test to be promoted, and changed the state's quality rankings of schools. In addition, the legislation eliminates the requirement that school districts must spend 65 percent of their operating budgets on classroom instruction. Source: Education Week (6/26/09)
Board of Education Adds Graduation Benchmark to High School Accreditation Standards - New Accountability Requirement Effective in 2011-2012 School Year
News
Schedule a Presentation
Contact:
Office of the Commissioner
Connecticut Department of Education
P.O. Box 2219
Hartford, Connecticut 06145-2219
Telephone: (860) 713-6525
Content Last Modified on 7/10/2009 1:30:36 PM
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