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News
2002
CONNECTICUT MASTERY TEST
RESULTS AND PLANS
In late February
2003, state
results of the Connecticut Mastery Test administered in the fall of
2002 in grades 4, 6, and 8 were released. Once again, Stafford
students in grades
6 and 8 performed better than Education Reference Group (ERG G)* and
state
averages. However, the performance of students in grade 4
declined.
Highlights of the data are:
- Grade 6
scores have remained
steady over two years after a large increase between 2000 and 2001.
- Grade 8 math
and reading
scores have generally remained at similar levels for three years.
- There are
fewer students at
the intervention level as students progress through our program in
Stafford.
- In grade 6,
we ranked first
in our ERG in math, second in reading, and third in writing.
- In grade 8,
we ranked first
in our ERG in math, fourth in reading, and third in writing.
- In grade 4,
we ranked
twelfth in our ERG in math, eleventh in reading, and seventh in
writing. These results are far below those we have attained in
the past.
These results,
particularly those
attained
in grade 4, are studied to determine a future plan of action for our
schools, so that we may continually improve. We feel this study
and planning have resulted in improved scores over the past few years.
Areas in need of
improvement are:
- Grades 4, 6,
and 8: Writing
Test, editing and revising
- Grade 4:
Reading Test,
reading comprehension, especially developing an interpretation
- Grade 6:
Reading Test,
reading comprehension, especially developing a critical stance
- Grade 8:
Reading Test,
reading comprehension, especially developing an initial understanding
and a critical stance
- Grade 4:
Math Test, place
value, models for operations, estimation, measurement, and mathematical
applications
- Grade 6:
Math Test,
estimating solutions to problems, measurement, statistics and data
analysis, and mathematical applications
- Grade 8:
Math Test,
fractions, decimals and percents, estimation, measurement, statistics
and data analysis, algebraic concepts, patterns, geometry, probability
and statistics, and mathematical applications**
We are addressing
these areas of
weakness
by:
- Working
collaboratively on
bridging achievement gaps (gender, poverty, special education)
- Working
together to create
assessments and activities through grade 8 aligned with the CMT
- Strengthening
reading
comprehension
strategies, particularly in the primary grades
- Developing
editing and
revising skills as well as organization and elaboration in writing
- Creating new
ways to
instruct in estimation and approximation, measurement, probability,
discrete mathematics, and applications in math.
*
ERG G is
comprised of:
Chaplin, East Haven, East Windsor, Griswold, North Canaan, Plainfield,
Plainville, Plymouth, Sprague, Stafford, Sterling, Thomaston, Thompson
Voluntown, and Winchester.
**
While several areas of
weakness at all grade levels are targeted, those at the grade 4 level
are more severe. |
