Hartford Business Journal Special Editions

32 | HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2, 2017 interest in not just online classes, but also online degrees. For example, West Hartford-based St. Joseph University offers online programs in health administration as well as business intelligence. No Child Left Behind Another important story for the education sector was the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, which was passed by Congress in 2001. The landmark education act sent school districts throughout the United States and the Hartford region scrambling to comply with new rules mandating annual student assessments. In addition to the assessments, there was accountability built into the law, meaning school districts could lose federal education funding if they failed to consistently improve student performance. While the law has many detractors, Dianna Wentzell, commissioner of the state Department of Education, says she views NCLB as an extension of civil rights legislation from the 1950s and '60s, asserting that education is a basic right of all Americans, regardless of socioeconomic status. "I think [NCLB] permanently changed our field in a positive way," she said. "Now, we really are concerned that all means all." With the added emphasis on testing, school districts are dealing with a lot more data. While sometimes overwhelming, Florio said all that data has had a big impact on schools. Now, test results aren't used simply to measure student performance, but also to "drive instruction" and identify areas where teachers need more training. Looking ahead, Wentzell said she expects to see a greater emphasis in education on civic engagement. "We're really seeing a greater understanding that those are skills that you have to teach," she said, noting that Connecticut is one of the only states to have K-12 social studies standards that help students learn about engaging in civil discourse as well as discerning between real and fake news. "We really believe in Connecticut that it's not just about college and career," she said. "It's about preparing citizens." UConn Enrollment Growth 2008-2016 Fall 2008 Fall 2016 % Increase Undergraduates 21,372 23,630 10.6% Graduates 6,583 7,139 8.4% Professional (Law and Pharm.D.) 925 671 -27.5% School of Medicine 331 408 23.3% School of Dental Medicine 172 179 4.1% Total 29,383 32,027 9% Source: UConn The Academy of Engineering and Green Technology in Hartford is an example of the growing number of career-focused high schools that have sprouted. Congratulations to the Hartford Business Journal on their 25 th anniversary! Whittlesey (formerly Whittlesey & Hadley P.C.) is proud to be a part of this community. Learn more about our rebrand story and what makes Whittlesey one of the top firms in the region. Visit WAdvising.com ASSURANCE | ADVISORY | TAX | TECHNOLOGY Headquarters | 280 Trumbull St, 24th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103 | Tel: 860.522.3111

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