6146.2

Instruction

Statewide Proficiency/Mastery Examinations

Each student enrolled in grades three through six shall annually take a mastery examination in reading, language arts and mathematics). Each student enrolled in grade five shall, annually, in March or April, take a state-wide mastery examination in science. The State Board of Education shall approve the provision and administration of all mastery examinations.

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.

Limited English proficient (LEP) students, including those also identified as requiring special education, who are in their first year of enrollment in a U.S. school and have been in attendance for one school year or less may be permitted to be exempt from one administration of the reading/language arts portion of the mastery examination.  These students must take the Language Assessment Scales (LSS-Links).  No such exemption is permitted, based on federal guidelines, from the mathematics and science assessments of the CMT.  Accommodations, as provided in classroom instruction may be used.

Limited English proficient students eligible for special education due to significant cognitive impairment must be tested on the CMT Skills Checklist, regardless of the one school year exemption option.

Any alternate assessment, including the CMT Skills Checklist, of students enrolled in special education, shall be available only to those students with significant cognitive disabilities. Students with significant cognitive disabilities in grades three through six shall be assessed with the Connecticut Alternate Assessment. In compliance with federal law, out-of-level testing is not an option for students enrolled in special education.

(cf. 5121 - Examination/Grading/Rating)

(cf. 5125 - Student Records; Confidentiality)

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, PA 03-168, PA 13-207 and Section 115 of PA 14-217)

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)

PL 107-110 - Title I, 34 CFR Part 200

34 CFR, Part 200 Regulations appearing in Federal Register, 9/13/06.

Policy adopted:  June 3, 2008

Policy revised:  June 16, 2015

NEW HARTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

New Hartford, Connecticut