Press Release: Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery to Deliver End-of-Year Evaluation Report Highlighting Academic Growth, $35.4 Million in New Funding, Workforce Stabilization, and Strengthened Accountability

[District Communications]

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 24, 2026 

-PRESS RELEASE- 

Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery to Deliver End-of-Year Evaluation Report Highlighting Academic Growth, $35.4 Million in New Funding, Workforce Stabilization, and Strengthened Accountability

Bridgeport, CT – Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery is presenting his 2025–2026 Superintendent Evaluation Report to the Bridgeport Board of Education this evening, providing a comprehensive overview of the district's progress, ongoing challenges, and strategic priorities for the future.

The report reflects a year of focused efforts to address longstanding challenges, strengthen accountability, improve student outcomes, and build a stronger foundation for the future of Bridgeport Public Schools. While significant work remains, the report highlights measurable progress across academics, staffing, fiscal management, Special Education services, facilities planning, family engagement, and community partnerships.

Among the accomplishments highlighted in the report are a 16% increase in K–2 students performing at or above literacy benchmark, a 15% increase in students in grades 7–12 reading at or above grade level, a 2.6% decrease in chronic absenteeism, and the launch of the district's first comprehensive K–12 ESL curriculum development initiative designed to strengthen language development across listening, speaking, reading, and writing for more than 5,500 multilingual learners.

The report also outlines significant operational and financial progress, including securing more than $35.4 million in additional state and municipal funding, obtaining $108.7 million in awarded grant funding, implementing all 34 forensic audit recommendations, and reducing certified staff vacancies from more than 150 positions to 41. The district also reduced Special Education teacher vacancies from 31 to 2 and bilingual teacher vacancies from 6 to 2, helping strengthen support for students across the district.

Additional highlights include the launch of a centralized Enrollment Center to improve access and customer service for families, the introduction of a redesigned district website to enhance communication and accessibility, advancement of a new $74 million Special Education Center, and completion of the district's first comprehensive Facilities Master Plan in more than a decade.

“Over the past year, we have worked to address immediate challenges while building stronger systems that support long-term success for students, staff, and families,” said Dr. Avery. “This report reflects meaningful progress across the district, but it also recognizes the work that remains. Our responsibility is to continue building on this momentum, remain focused on student outcomes, and ensure every child has access to the opportunities and support they deserve.”

The report will be presented during this evening's Board of Education meeting and will be made available to the public following the presentation.

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