Connecticut Superintendent Newsletter Guide

Connecticut superintendents operate in a state with some of the strongest school funding and one of the largest achievement gaps in the country. Addressing that contradiction honestly and specifically, in communication that reaches every family, is one of the most important things a Connecticut superintendent can do.

Report Smarter Balanced results with context

Connecticut uses the Smarter Balanced assessments in ELA and math. Superintendent newsletters that report district results clearly, with year-over-year comparison and context about subgroup performance, give families a complete picture of where the district stands and which students need the most support.

Address equity and achievement gap data directly

Connecticut's achievement gaps are well-documented. Superintendent newsletters that report honestly on gaps between student groups within the district, and describe specific investments to close them, are more credible and more useful to families than communication that reports only aggregate performance.

Communicate about the Next Generation Accountability System

Connecticut's accountability system measures schools on multiple indicators including academic achievement, growth, chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and post-secondary readiness. Superintendent newsletters that explain the system and report on the district's performance across all indicators give families a multidimensional picture of school quality.

Explain Alliance District resources if applicable

Alliance Districts receive additional state resources and support. Superintendent newsletters in these districts that explain what the additional resources fund, and what outcomes those investments are producing, build community confidence that the district is using every available tool to improve.

Build consistent communication throughout the year

Connecticut families benefit from a communication rhythm that tracks the state's accountability calendar: assessment results in late summer, accountability data in the fall, mid-year updates in January, and spring previews of the upcoming assessment season. Consistent communication builds the community relationship that makes difficult conversations easier when they are necessary.

Sample excerpt

"Our Connecticut Smarter Balanced results are in. In ELA, 63% of our students met or exceeded the standard, compared to 62% last year and the state average of 61%. In math, 53% met or exceeded standard, compared to 51% last year. I want to share the gap data as well: among our low-income students, 44% met the ELA standard, compared to 78% of students from higher-income families. That gap is our most important work. This fall, we are expanding our reading intervention program, adding two counselors at our highest-need schools, and increasing our family engagement efforts at the nine schools where the gap is largest."

Daystage delivers superintendent newsletters to every Connecticut family inbox, ensuring that honest, complete communication about achievement and equity reaches every family simultaneously.