R.I. earns C+ on education report

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island earned a C+ on Education Week’s Quality Counts report, with the ranking reflecting strength in the “chance for success” category but weakness in a K-12 “achievement index.”
The ranking puts the state at 13th among its peers and the District of Columbia, with an overall score of 78.5 out of a possible 100 points. That ranking also is higher than the country’s overall grade of C. Neighboring Massachusetts ranks first in the nation.
After a one-year hiatus from issuing state grades, this year’s 19th annual edition of Quality Counts focuses on early childhood education. Grades represent outcomes rather than policy and processes, according to press releases from the Bethesda, Md.-based publication.
Rhode Island earned a B- and a ranking of 24th in the “Chance for Success” category, while the average state earned a C. The chance for success focuses on early foundations, school years and adult outcomes.
Rhode Island also earned a B+ and ranking of seventh in the “School Finance” category, above the average state grade of C. The category focuses on equity and spending.
However, the state earned a D+ and a ranking of 27th for the K-12 Achievement Index, below the average state grade of C-, according to the report. This category examines status, change and equity.
Finally, on the Early Education Index, which incorporates data from eight different indicators, Rhode Island earned a D+ and a ranking of 32nd. This index covers preschool enrollment; gains in preschool enrollment; the preschool poverty gap and changes to it; full day preschool; Headstart enrollment; and kindergarten and full-day kindergarten enrollment.
“No state really aces the exam on early childhood education,” says Christopher B. Swanson, vice president of Editorial Projects in Education, the nonprofit that publishes Education Week. “In fact, we find very inconsistent performance across early childhood indicators, with the majority of states ranking in the top 10 for some areas but in the bottom 10 for others.”
Rhode Island’s “highlights” report can be found at HERE.