Innovative education leader Rae Ann Knopf to take the reins of new education advocacy group

NEW HAVEN, CT - The Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER) today named Rae Ann Knopf as its first Executive Director.

Knopf is currently the Deputy Commissioner of Education Transformation and Innovation for the Vermont Department of Education. She has a broad range of experience in the field of education and has a proven track record of initiating successful education reform efforts throughout her career. As Deputy Commissioner, Knopf led a restructuring of the Vermont Department of Education and a redesign of the state’s outdated system of standards and accountability with an eye toward closing achievement gaps and providing high-quality educational opportunities to all of the state’s students.Read More »

NEW HAVEN, CT – The Connecticut Council for Education Reform is encouraged that the CEA is embracing reform of our education system and we congratulate them for moving forward with this comprehensive plan. There are areas of common ground between the CEA plan and the recommendations outlined by our predecessor, the Connecticut Commission on Educational Achievement. This is yet another acknowledgement that the status quo is not working and must be changed if we are to going improve the education of all our state’s children and the future economic wellbeing of our state. Read More »

Milford resident Robert Townes Joins Statewide Education Reform Advocacy Group

New Haven, CT – The Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER) announces the appointment of Robert Townes to the newly-created position of Manager of Communications. The hiring of Townes is part of CCER’s commitment to advance its mission and increase its visibility and presence in the education reform movement in Connecticut.

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NEW HAVEN, CT – “The Connecticut Council for Education Reform applauds this bold education reform initiative set forth by the Malloy Administration. As advocates for our state’s business and civic interests, we know that the status quo is not working and must be changed now. The reform principles outlined today are vital to our state’s children and critical to our future economic wellbeing. We strongly encourage the Governor and the Legislature to push through comprehensive education reform during the upcoming legislative session. Read More »

NEW HAVEN, CT – The results of the 2011 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) point to a widening achievement gap between Connecticut’s low-income and non-low-income students in the 4th and 8th grade in reading and math. Connecticut continues to have the unfortunate distinction of having, on average, the largest achievement gap between its low-income and non-low-income students in the nation.

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HARTFORD, CT – The Connecticut Council for Education Reform released the following statement today regarding the appointment of Stefan Pryor as Connecticut’s new Education Commissioner:

“The Governor’s choice of Stefan Pryor as the state’s next Education Commissioner is bold and farsighted. During his career Mr. Pryor has demonstrated leadership and an understanding of how to work with a variety of constituencies – including government entities –to effect change. Read More »

HARTFORD, CT – Today’s release of the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) results shows some encouraging trends. Between 2006 and 2011, the percent of low-income students performing at or above the goal level increased by nearly a third in math and by nearly 40 percent in reading in grade 3. Additionally, gaps in achievement between low-income and non-low-income students narrowed in both subjects in grade 3. The performance of low-income students; however, still remains unacceptable with 34 percent of low-income students scoring at or above the goal level in reading.

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HARTFORD, CT – A new non-profit was announced today, comprised mainly of business leaders with the goal of closing the state’s achievement gap and raising academic outcomes for all students.

The Connecticut Council for Education Reform was born out of the Connecticut Commission on Educational Achievement, a bipartisan group of business and philanthropic leaders appointed by former Governor Rell to make recommendations for closing Connecticut’s achievement gap, the largest in the nation.

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The official launch of the new education group—The Connecticut Council for Education Reform could not have come at a better time. With the Council’s dedication to significantly closing Connecticut’s achievement gap, the results of the 2011 Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT), given in grade 10, point to the urgency of the issue.

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HARTFORD, CT – Business leaders will announce a new statewide non-profit focused on driving comprehensive education reform. Born out of the governor-appointed Connecticut Commission on Educational Achievement, the new entity is committed to closing the achievement gap and improving education overall in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Council for Education Reform will announce its membership and agenda at the press conference.

Who: The Connecticut Council for Education Reform

When: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

Where: State Capitol, Rm. 314, Hartford

What: Business Leaders Launch the Connecticut Council for Education Reform