DBS CODE: 6146.2 DBS CODE: 6146.2INSTRUCTION
Statewide Proficiency/Mastery Examinations
Each student enrolled in grades three through eight inclusive shall annually take a mastery examination or examinations that measures essential and grade appropriate skills in reading, writing or mathematics during any month of the school year. (Currently administered during the last 12 weeks of the school year.) Students enrolled in grade eleven shall annually take a nationally recognized college readiness assessment approved by the State Board of Education that measures essential and grade appropriate skills in reading, writing and mathematics.
Each student enrolled in grade five, eight, and ten (Grade 11, in lieu of Grade 10 beginning in the 2018-2019 school year) shall, annually, in March or April, take a state-wide mastery examination that measures essential and grade appropriate skills in science. The State Board of Education shall approve the provision and administration of all mastery examinations. All examinations shall take place during the regular school day.
Student scores on each component of the statewide tenth or eleventh grade state assessment may be included on the permanent record and transcripts for each eleventh grade student. For each eleventh grade student who meets or exceeds the statewide mastery goal level on any component of the mastery examination, shall have a certification of such mastery made on the permanent record and transcript and be provided a certificate of mastery for each such component.
The school district may not require achievement of a satisfactory score on a mastery examination, or any subsequent retest on a component of such examinations as the sole criterion of promotion or graduation.
Special education students shall participate in mastery testing except in the rare case when their Planning and Placement Team determines that participation would be inappropriate and recommends the use of an alternative assessment as specified by the State Board of Education.
All English learners (ELs) including recently arrived, defined as those students whose initial entry date in a U.S. school is less than two years (24 months) prior to test administration are required to participate in all content areas of the state summative assessment.
All students identified as English Learners (EL) regardless of how long they have been enrolled in school shall take the mastery examination in all content areas (reading/language arts, mathematics, science). Scores on each component of the mastery examination for English learners who have been enrolled in school in this state or another state for fewer than twenty (20) school months shall not be used for the purposes of calculating the school accountability index as defined in C.G.S. 10-223e.
Scores from year 1 is ready to serve as a baseline for academic growth in Year 2. In year 3, the scores of recently arrived ELs will be included toward academic achievement and academic growth indicators in Connecticut's accountability system.
Limited English proficient students eligible for special education due to significant cognitive impairment shall be tested on the appropriate recommended state assessment, regardless of the one school year exemption option.
Any alternate assessment of students enrolled in special education shall be available only to those students with significant cognitive disabilities. In compliance with federal law, out-of-level testing is not an option for students enrolled in special education. Students with significant cognitive disabilities in grades three through eight and eleven shall be assessed with the Connecticut Alternative Assessment in the English/language arts and mathematics. In science, eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities shall be assessed with the CMT/CAPT Skills Checklist/Science in grades five, eight and ten.
In compliance with federal law, out-of-level testing is not an option for students enrolled in special education.
The Board of Education recognizes that federal law requires full participation of all students on the state summative assessments, with a minimum standard for the participation rate of at least 95 percent of all students and all student groups for each subject. Further, the Board realizes there are consequences for districts and schools not meeting this participation role threshold on these state summative assessments.
(cf. 5121 - Examination/Grading/Rating)
(cf. 5125 - Student Records; Confidentiality)
(cf. 6146 - Graduation Requirements)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-14n Statewide mastery examination. Conditions for reexamination. Limitation on use of test results. (as amended by PA 03-174 and PA 03-168 and PA 13-207), Section 115 of PA 14-217, PA 15-238 and PA 17-14.
10-14o Compensatory education grant. Financial statement of expenditures.
10 14p Reports by local and regional boards re instructional improvement and student progress.
10-14q Exceptions (as amended by PA 01-205)
10-223e Statewide education accountability plan.
PL 107-110 - Title I, 34 CFR Part 200
34 CFR, Part 200 Regulations appearing in Federal Register, 9/13/06.
Adopted: November 10, 2003
Revised: July 13, 2009
May 26, 2015
January 11, 2016
November 13, 2017