The citizens of New London and readers of The Day deserve the right to read and receive accurate and factual information about New London’s public schools, not the misleading analysis offered by Shannon Brenek published on June 8.

The Brenek piece regurgitated data from a Connecticut Mirror article, not a State Department of Education report. If she had reviewed CSDE sources, her guest commentary might have read…

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[naviga:li]Twelve Percent Higher Graduation Rates and Rising[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]NL Growth Exceeds State Averages in Smarter Balanced Assessments[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Engagement Increases Dramatically[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Improvements in College Preparedness Abound[/naviga:li]

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In January 2017, the Department of Education released the performance index data for Connecticut school districts based on 12 indices that comprise the new System of Accountability. Brenek chose to examine one data point, which is not one of the 12 indices. A review of the CSDE index report shows areas of significant growth in New London. While we have a long way to go, the data tells the story of a district working on systemic change and making significant gains for students, especially the High Needs Subgroups that continue to be underserved statewide. NLPS’s Magnet Schools of Excellence Plan is responsible for continued upward trends in the following areas of CSDE’s New System of Accountability:

a) Twelve Percent Higher Graduation Rates — Over the last 6 years, the graduation rate in NL has improved by 12 percent, from 64.9 percent in 2012 to 76.9 percent in 2016.

b) New London Growth Exceeds State Averages — The two-year Smarter Balanced Assessment growth rate shows New London elementary students outpacing State Averages for growth in the High Needs Subgroup. This group includes English Learners (See attached infobox), students with disabilities, and students living in poverty who comprise approximately 84 percent of NLPS’s students.

c) Engagement Increases Dramatically — NLPS’s Magnet Schools of Excellence Plan has drastically reduced chronic absenteeism at every grade level. The city’s Middle School is beating the state averages High Needs Subgroup with 13.4 percent chronic absences in 2017 versus the state average of 15.6 percent. Reductions in Chronic Absenteeism is an early indicator that students and families are more engaged and learning is on the rise. Overall, chronic absences in city schools dropped from 22.1 percent in 2013-2014 to 16.7 percent the past school year.

d) Improvements in College Preparedness — NLPS students are better prepared than they have ever been to enter college with coursework and experience in fields ranging from manufacturing to biotechnology to culinary arts. These trends indicate that NLPS’s Magnet Schools of Excellence Plan is an investment that is working. In 2014-2015, 16 percent of students met expectations on their SATs. The following year the number jumped to 28 percent. The numbers of students earning early college credits also increased, from 195 in 2013-2014 to 225 in 2015-2016, and those enrolled in AP courses went from 133 to 153 over the same period.

Regarding the tax and mill rate increases: Nothing could be further from the truth to imply that the 9.4 percent tax increase and the raise in the city’s mill rate from 40 to 44 is directly linked to claims about poor district performance. The indisputable fact is that the City Council-approved education budget represents only a 1 percent increase in the mill rate. Declining state aid for city government, increased city pension contribution, increased debt service and increased city operating costs are responsible for 8.4 percent of the 9.4 percent increase.

Regarding impact of Magnet Schools: Brenek implies that our vision to create magnet schools of excellence was based on a promise to relieve tax burden on residents, but then incorrectly attributes expenses such as bonding for new school construction (high school was outdated, ADA noncompliant, and at risk of losing accreditation regardless of its status as a magnet school or not); hiring additional school staff (New London resident population is exceeding projections); and opening of Harbor Elementary (needed to accommodate our growing population of city students), as justifying a need to “reassess plans” for local taxpayers.

The fact is that the average per pupil revenue received for each magnet school student is $17,800, while the average per pupil cost is $15,355. This means that $2,445 per incoming magnet student builds robust programs that serves all.

Special Education costs are fully paid by our regional sending districts and represent no added cost to New London.

There is much work ahead to build a great school district, but the expectation that performance would dramatically "jump" in one or two years reflects a lack of understanding about systems change and academic achievement trends. More New London families are choosing to keep their children in our schools, and the demand for regional magnet seats has expanded from 21 regional communities to 33 regional communities.

Better and stronger schools is the key to New London’s economic future. We need ardent supporters who choose to get involved and build upon our successes, rather than misrepresent the facts and undermine our positive progress.

Dr. Manuel J. Rivera is the superintendent of New London Public Schools and a city native.