A judge last week ordered Connecticut officials to develop plans for a major overhaul of the state’s public education system within six months, saying a huge gap in test scores between students in rich and poor towns shows parts of the system are unconstitutional and irrational.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ordered the state to submit proposed reforms to the court to revamp its formula for distributing education aid, develop a statewide high school graduation standard such as a test, make 8th graders show they have acquired the skills to move on to high school, and replace what he called an irrational and weak statewide system of teacher evaluation and compensation.
The ruling came in an 11-year-old lawsuit filed against the state by a nonprofit group that includes cities, towns, local boards of education, parent groups, and public school students.
