August 2007

In July, the Connecticut Department of Education, released the Connecticut 2007 Mastery Test results (CMT).

This is the second year of the 4^th generation CMT which is now administered in the spring to all public school students in grades 3 through 8. Students are tested in three subjects – mathematics, reading and writing.

It is important to note that in Preston the CMT’s represent the only district-wide program in place to assess student achievement in these three important subjects. So, we take this data seriously; promoting and sustaining student achievement is our primary responsibility.

With respect to this assessment program, the Preston Board of Education established the following goal on September 11, 2006:

80% of all test-takers in grades 3-8 are expected to score at the Goal or Advanced level on each one of the three tests.

In order to appreciate the rigor of that expectation, it is important to understand that individual student performances on each of those three tests fall into one of the following five categories:

· Advanced

· Goal

· Proficient

· Basic

· Below Basic

So, what the Board of Education is saying is that we expect that the performances of the overwhelming majority of our students will fall into one of the two top tiers. This expectation falls in line with what both the state and federal government expect as well. In fact, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) actually expects that 100% of all test takers will fall into one of those two categories by the year 2013. Not surprisingly, that expectation has produced many critics who believe that it is unrealistic because it does not take into account the challenges to performing at that level experienced by a significant number of students. That’s an issue that is likely to receive more attention by the Congress as the bill is up for re-authorization this year.

In terms of the Board’s expectation, the following chart is intended to provide an overview of how students in grades 3-8 performed in 2007 as compared to 2006, the year we identified as baseline for the purposes of measuring growth overtime. In addition, the chart includes the 2007 statewide averages (CT) as well, a useful index for analyzing how we did in comparison to the state as a whole.

Preston Public Schools

Connecticut Mastery Test (2007)

Note: “07 CT” represents the State Average achieved in 2007 for each grade and subject.

Percentage At or Above Goal:

		3rd	3rd 07CT	4th	4th 07CT	5th	5th 07CT
Math	2007	78.4	59	78.3	62	62.3*	66
	2006	65.2		55.2		55.9
Reading	2007	58.8	52	71.7	57	67.2	61
	2006	65.2		65.5		72.9
Writing	2007	56.9*	61	80.4	65	63.9*	65
	2006	77.8		63.2		63.2
Improved		1/3		3/3		2/3
		6th	6th 07CT	7th	7th 07CT	8th	8th 07CT
Math	2007	66.7	64	49.2*	60	64.8	61
	2006	52.4		74.1		54
Reading	2007	76.7	64	60.3*	66	87	67
	2006	58.7		77.4		82
Writing	2007	58.3*	63	47.6	60	72.2	64
	2006	49.2		44.4		72
Improved		3/3		1/3		3/3

*Below State Average

Total Improved: 13/18

80% At Goal/Advanced: 2/18 ( 4^th grade writing and 8^th grade reading)

(BOE Target)

70% - 79% At Goal/Advanced: 5/18 (3^rd and 4^th grade mathematics, 4^th grade reading, 6^th grade

reading and 8^th grade writing)

At or Above State Average: 11/18

Mathematics:

For grades 3-6, a simple comparison (06 vs 07) and “cohort analysis” (e.g., comparing the performances of grades 3-5 in 06 with grades 4-6 in 07) demonstrates significant growth. Also, the performances of grade 3 and grade 4 is just shy of the Board’s 80% target.

For grades 7 and 8, the performances of students are less impressive. With the exception of grade 8 where there was a 10 percentage point gain in comparison to the performance of the 06 class, the more telling cohort analysis between grades 6 and 7 / 7 and 8 demonstrates a decline.

Reading:

For grades 3, 5 and 7, a simple comparison (06 vs 07) illustrates a decline in the percentage of students At or Above Goal. However, the more valuable cohort analysis is encouraging as each class’s performance improved in the succeeding year. In addition, the performance of 8^th grade students was exemplary; the class exceeded the 80% at Goal/Advanced standard quite impressively. In addition, grades 4 and 6 were not far off the mark either.

Writing:

The performance of 4^th grade students is significant; it is the only class to meet the Board’s expectation of 80% At or Above Goal. In addition, for grade 8, cohort analysis (e.g., comparing the performance of grade 8 in 07 with grade 7 in 06) is impressive.

During the forthcoming year, we intend to use the data available to us regarding every child’s performance to improve instructional practices and assist all children in meeting the Board’s expectation.