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Health & Fitness

Sen. Boucher Statement to 2013 CMT and CAPT Test Scores

State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) ranking member of the Education Committee of the General Assembly released the following statement today re: 2013 Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and CAPT test scores.  CMT scores dipped slightly across all grade levels in reading, mathematics, writing and science in 2013.  And CAPT results were mixed.

 

“These test results are an indication that we still have work to do.  It is no secret - sadly Connecticut has a vast achievement gap.   More troubling - results released Tuesday also showed a widening achievement gap between students learning English as a second language and those who are English speaking first.

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“I was an English language learner (ELL) from a family whose parents had little or no formal education and struggled. It was hard to learn in a classroom where you didn’t know the language.   The silver lining is this gap has been identified and there are many dedicated teachers partnering with parents and community leaders working to close that gap.

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“The good news is we can use these results and learn from them. If we know, as the scores suggest that 3rd graders are not reaching goal in math then maybe there are constructive things districts can do to help those children catch up.  In 6th grade it appears reading has improved.  The logical question is what is going on in that part of the curriculum that is working?

 

“High school sophomores who took the CAPT test showed slight gains in all subjects except for writing and in the big cities math proficiency is consistently an issue.

 

“Let us share the information good and bad and use it to achieve success around the state.  We have a dynamic Education Commissioner who is laser focused on turning around failing districts and rewarding districts who are consistently performing.  That kind of leadership is critical when trying to make sure our students are ready when they graduate high school.

 

“Connecticut can once again be a leader in education.  It will continue to take hard work and dedication from parents, teachers and community leaders.”

Public school students in grades 3 to 8 took the mastery exam in March.  The CAPT tests were administered to 10th graders around the same time.  This will be the last year for some districts to take the standardized tests as they are transitioning to the new Common Core State Standards.  The Common Core tests a student’s analytical skills and will replace the mastery test and CAPT by 2015.

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