Business Leaders To Issue Recommendations On Education

Governor Rell has appointed a panel of business leaders to explore ways to improve public education. 

The Connecticut Commission on Educational Achievement is looking at why the state has the largest achievement gap in the country and what can be done to address the problem. Only 18% of Connecticut’s low income students read at or above the proficiency level, compared to 52% of wealthier students.  

Ramani Ayer is retired chairman and CEO of the Hartford. Speaking on WNPR’s Where We Live he says he came to the Commission with a sense that poverty is an insurmountable obstacle to academic achievement. "Today I believe it is not. We have to change our beliefs that as long as we have outstanding leaders in our schools we can actually make a dramatic shift in the educational achievement of poor children".

Commission members have visited schools  and heard from over 200 education experts. They submit their recommendations to the Governor in the fall.