Connecticut has been ranked as the third-worst state in the nation for educational inequality along racial lines, according to a recent study conducted by WalletHub. This study compared the graduation rates, high school and college degrees, and test scores of white and Black residents. While Connecticut fares better in terms of average ACT test scores, placing 18th in the nation, this suggests a narrower gap between the two racial groups in this particular area.
The persistent disparity in school and student performance within Connecticut, commonly referred to as the achievement gap, has been a source of frustration for education advocates who have been advocating for transformative changes.
This is why we are deeply committed to our mission of empowering and uplifting minority children through quality education and equitable opportunities. We firmly believe that every child should have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background. However, achieving this vision necessitates not only dedication but also the allocation of adequate resources.
A report by CT Voices for Children identified disparities in various aspects of the Connecticut school system, including access to same-race teachers, chronic absenteeism, access to challenging coursework, exclusionary discipline, graduation rates, and test scores. The report’s author, Camera Stokes Hudson, highlighted that these disparities leave Black students ill-prepared for college and future careers. The research underscores that these educational inequalities primarily stem from disparities in opportunities rather than student effort or family involvement.
Another study conducted by the Yankee Institute, examining the achievement divide in Connecticut, revealed significant disparities based on family income, with higher-income areas generally performing better than lower-income areas. Authors Abigail Feisig and Shauna Curran emphasized the troubling levels of educational disparities within the state, despite its wealth and generally high education levels.
In a 2020 report, the School and State Finance Project identified a funding disparity of $639 million between districts with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) student populations of at least 25 percent and districts with predominantly White student populations. Connecticut schools receive support from a combination of municipal, state, and federal funds.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the suspension of in-class learning, may have exacerbated these disparities, with overall test scores declining upon the resumption of in-person education. In response, legislators have revised Connecticut’s education cost sharing grant to allocate more funds to schools with fewer resources and a higher proportion of low-income students. The state’s most recent budget includes a $144 million increase in the ECS grant over the next two years.