Case Study:
Closing the Achievement Gap in Connecticut
January 14, 2026
About the Schools/Districts
As part of the CTLM team, the HILL helped 103 schools across Connecticut to apply evidence-based literacy practices.
This partnership led to improved outcomes for Connecticut students and teachers.
Goals of the Project
Central to CTLM is a commitment to K-3 literacy through:
- Creating comprehensive district-wide literacy plans
- Building Literacy Leadership Capacity
- Training educators to implement evidence-based reading instruction
- Using comprehensive data-driven assessment systems
- Actively engaging families
Project Timeline
We’ve seen over the course of 4 years that percentages of students who are reading at grade level are more than doubled. We’ve also seen that the percentage of students that are performing significantly below grade level has been more than halved.
Michael Coyne, Ph.D., Professor of Educational Psychology, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut
HILL Services Used
- Needs assessment and literacy planning
- Literacy leadership development
- Targeted professional learning and coaching
- HQIM implementation
- Data-driven decision-making process for data meetings
The Results
Increase in Fall 2024-Spring 2025 Benchmarks
Recently, our efforts resulted in more Connecticut kindergarten students meeting reading benchmarks.
- Norwalk Public Schools 24%
- Stratford Public Schools 24%
- East Haven Public Schools 48%
Stats Across the Entire CTLM Project
Districts
Schools
State & Institutional Partners
Years
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Work with the HILL
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