R.I.’s education system improves but falls short of national performance

PROVIDENCE – The performance of Rhode Island’s education system has improved slightly in the past year, but still falls short of national education performance, according to 15th annual education report card released Tuesday by the Editorial Projects in Education’s publication, Education Week.

However, Rhode Island is not alone, as the report noted that “the nation and states continue to struggle back from the most severe economic downturn in generations and face new challenges in delivering a high-quality education to all students.”

“Quality Counts 2011: Uncertain Forecast – Education Adjusts to a New Economic Reality” provided grades for each state based on performance in six areas: chance for success; K-12 achievement; standards, assessments and accountability; transitions and alignment; teaching profession; and school finance.

Rhode Island’s rank – among the states and District of Columbia – rose to No. 31 from No. 33 after seeing its grade increase seven-tenths of a point to 75.7 out of a possible 100 points. The Ocean State continues to hold a step behind education performance nationally, which was rated 76.3 in the report, up from 75.9 a year ago. Both the U.S. and Rhode Island received C grades.

This year, the Ocean State saw improvement in the chance for success, K-12 achievement and school finance categories. Notably, Rhode Island now ranks second in the nation for school finance up from No. 3 last year. The score for school finance is determined by school spending patterns and the distribution of resources.

Massachusetts has continued to be a top performer, ranking third in the nation for two consecutive years. The Bay State improved its score by one-tenth of a point to 82.6, which was only exceeded by New York, 84.7, and Maryland, 87.6.

South Dakota, Nebraska and the District of Columbia received the lowest grades, each with scores in the D-plus range.

Quality Counts is researched by the EPE Research Center, the research division of Bethesda, Md.-based Editorial Projects in Education, a nonprofit organization that also publishes Education Week.