A newly released statewide report, The State of Educational Opportunity in Connecticut: A Survey of Connecticut Parents (2nd Edition, February 2026) delivers a powerful and timely message: Connecticut families are united around the need for more learning time, more academic support, and smart public investment in proven strategies.
Nearly nine in ten Connecticut parents favor using public dollars to provide free tutoring for students who fall below grade level in reading and math. A similar share support public funding for free summer camps and structured programs. Parents are not asking for abstract reform. They are asking for practical tools that help children catch up, stay on track, and move confidently toward college, career, and service.
Yet the report reveals a troubling gap between what families want and what students actually receive. Only one in four Connecticut children are getting academic tutoring, and fewer than half participate in supervised afterschool or summer programs. The consequences show up most clearly in early literacy and math outcomes, and the gaps fall hardest on Black, Hispanic, and low-income students. The same communities where reading proficiency and math performance are lowest are also those where chronic absenteeism is highest.
In other words, access to structured learning time and academic support is not evenly distributed — and where it is weakest, student outcomes suffer most.
This is precisely where Carver focuses its work. For decades, Carver has built programming around extended learning time, small-group tutoring led by certified teachers, summer academic enrichment, literacy development, STEAM exploration, social-emotional support, and clear workforce pathways. Our afterschool and summer programs are not add-ons; they are structured extensions of the school day designed to close gaps before they widen.
The survey also shows that many Connecticut parents are generally satisfied with their child’s school and would choose it again. But satisfaction does not eliminate the need for stronger supports. Families can appreciate their schools while still recognizing that more tutoring, more structured summer learning, and more intentional academic reinforcement are essential — especially for students who are not yet reading or performing at grade level.
The report offers policymakers and funders something invaluable: a clear parental mandate. Connecticut families overwhelmingly support investing in tutoring and summer programs. The challenge before us is to close the distance between what parents want and what the system consistently delivers.
At Carver, we believe more time matters. Daily reading matters. Structured tutoring matters. Summer learning matters. Workforce exposure matters. Connecticut parents agree.