REGION 15 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS REPORT ON
2006 CMT AND CAPT TESTS

 Reminding the members of the Region 15 Board of Education and the community that a quality education is not measured by a single test, school administrators reported on the results of both the 2006 Connecticut Mastery Test and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test.

 Dr. Lois Lanning, assistant school superintendent for curriculum, and Mr. James Agostine, principal of Pomperaug High School, spoke to the members of the Region 15 Board of Education at their January 8^th regular meeting.

 The Connecticut Mastery Test, or “CMT”, is a standardized test administered to students in Connecticut in grades 3 through 8. The CMT tests students in mathematics, reading, and writing. The test used to be administered only in grades 4, 6, and 8, but due to the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, Connecticut now tests those students in grades 3, 5, and 7 as well. The other major standardized test administered to schoolchildren in Connecticut is the Connecticut Academic Performance Test, or “CAPT”, which is given in grade 10.

 CAPT and CMT scores fall into Performance Levels, which range from 1 to 5 in each area tested. On this scale, 5 is considered "advanced/above goal," 4 is considered "goal," 3 is considered "proficient," 2 is considered "basic," and 1 is considered "below basic."

 Until the 2005-2006 school year the CMT was administered in the fall; now it is given in the spring. The CAPT has always been given in the spring since its inception.

 The following chart shows the percentage of those students, by grade, who achieved or exceeded goal for the mathematics, reading, and writing tests in the 2006 CMT: 

 Dr. Lois Lanning reported to the Board of Education that school principals are spending considerable time analyzing the data with their staff. The teachers, she added, are adjusting their goals, action plans, and intervention plans based on the analysis of the school data. The Math Leadership Team will be comparing new district math assessments to students’ CMT performance. Lastly, principals are working with staff to identify qualities of excellent student performance, and to plan any professional development that they deem necessary.

 Pomperaug High School principal Mr. James Agostine reported on the analysis of the 2006 Connecticut Academic Performance Test, or “CAPT”, which is given to students each spring.

 The CAPT is a state-mandated standardized test administered by the Connecticut State Board of Education that all Connecticut students must take. Students must demonstrate proficiency in CAPT competencies in order to graduate from high school. The test is administered to all students in their sophomore year. Students whose CAPT scores fall below the proficiency standard (Level 3) in any subtest can retake those sections in their junior year or may demonstrate competency by taking additional courses, alternative assessments, etc. The test covers the four curricular subjects—Mathematics, Reading Across Disciplines, Writing Across Disciplines, and Science.

 In all subject areas, students from Pomperaug High School (PHS) who scored at or above state goal exceeded the state average by over 14 points.

 “The participation rate and student scores continue to be very good to excellent,” said Mr. Agostine. “Our students take the CAPT test very seriously.”

 Departments at PHS are studying the results, communicating results with middle school teachers, and developing intervention plans for those students who did not meet goal. PHS administrators continue to study methods for improving achievement. Four teachers, for example, recently took an all-day writing course at Education Connection to help their students’ success.

 “Certainly, we’ve got a lot of intensive work ahead of us in some areas, but I strongly believe that we’re always trying to improve no matter how well we’re performing,” said Dr. Lanning.