2026 Smarter Balanced Assessment: Connecticut Charter Schools drive academic improvement in high-needs communities

The release of the 2026 Connecticut Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) data is positive news for schools statewide and highlights the continued strong performance of the state’s charter schools. This year’s data show that charter schools are the drivers of academic improvement in Connecticut’s highest-need cities and towns, making a clear case to continue growing school options that work. 

“Half of Connecticut’s students cannot read on grade level. That number should stop everyone in their tracks. At the same time, charter schools in Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, New London, and Waterbury are outperforming the districts around them and posting the largest gains in the state,” said Rebecca Greenberg-Ellis, Executive Director of The Mind Trust Connecticut. “Public charter schools serve a small fraction of the students who need them. The state knows what works. It should open more of these schools.”

No single test score can capture the full picture of a child’s potential or a school’s impact. The Mind Trust believes it is important to analyze data across an entire system, as it reveals meaningful patterns that show how well schools are serving their students. In Connecticut, students in grades 3-8 take the SBA each year, which measures learning in Math and English Language Arts (ELA).

Black and Latino Charter School Students Outperform State Proficiency Averages 

Connecticut measures overall school performance with the Next Generation Accountability System, which uses indicators such as achievement data, attendance, graduation rates, and more to score districts. If a district receives one of the lowest Next Generation scores in the state and has at least 1,000 students, the district is classified as an Alliance District. According to state law, charter schools must be located in an Alliance District, allowing families an educational option outside  their traditional school district. Currently, charter schools are located in 10 of the 36 Alliance Districts.

Next Generation Accountability index scores are calculated using 12 factors. While index scores show a broad view of performance, looking into SBA proficiency can help us have a clearer understanding of student learning for elementary and middle school students within a particular district. 

A significant indicator of charter school quality is for student groups to outperform state averages in ELA and math. According to 2026 SBA data, the students Connecticut struggles most to serve do better in charter schools. 

• Black charter students had an average ELA proficiency of 38%, compared to the 32.2% statewide average for Black students. 
• Latino charter students had an average ELA proficiency of 39%, compared to the 32.6% statewide average for Latino students. 
• Low-income charter students had an average ELA proficiency of 37%, compared to the 32.5% statewide average for low-income students. 
• English Language Learner students in charter schools achieved double the state proficiency average, reaching 25.5% ELA proficiency compared to the state average of 12.7%.
• In math, Black, Latino, and English Language Learner charter students outperformed the state average. 

Most Charter Schools Outperform Host Districts in ELA and Math

Additionally, the vast majority of charter schools are outperforming their host Alliance District in ELA and math. 

• In ELA, 15 of 19 charters with published results achieved larger gains than their host district, outperforming them by an average of 18 percentage points. 
• In math, 16 of 19 charter schools with published results outperformed their host district, outperforming them by an average of 12 percentage points. 
• Among all charter and Alliance Districts statewide, the top two ELA gains and the top three math gains were charter districts. 

For Black, Latino, and low-income students, these results are even stronger in ELA and math. 

• At charter schools with published ELA results for Black students, 11 of 13 outperformed their host district by an average of 19 percentage points.
• At charter schools with published ELA results for Latino students, 14 of 14 outperformed their host district by an average of 17 percentage points.
• At charter schools with published math results for Black students, 15 of 17 outperformed their host district by an average of 12 percentage points.
• At charter schools with published math results for Latino students, 14 of 17 outperformed their host district by an average of 13 percentage points.

The Mind Trust supports charter school growth through strategic investments and the North Star Fellowship, which provides support for talented leaders to develop and launch new Connecticut charter schools. Currently, seven fellows are receiving support to grow through the fellowship.