Pomperaug Regional School District 15

During the month of March, all students grades 3-8 will be taking the Connecticut Mastery Tests (CMT).

The purpose of the CMT is to provide for the statewide evaluation of students’ performance and to ensure that students’ academic strengths and weaknesses are identified. These tests are very helpful to us. We must emphasize that such standardized tests are among a variety of measures we use to plan our instruction. Teacher observations, daily work, and ongoing classroom assessments comprise our formal and informal evaluations. Each adds to our understanding of your child’s current level of achievement.

Although strategies for test taking will be practiced and reviewed, we best prepare our students by embedding the skills needed for the CMT in to our curriculum and daily activities. Principals will be speaking with all of our students about doing their best work, but not getting overanxious or nervous about having to take this test. The CMT is important, but no one test or assessment provides complete information about your child’s abilities. Again, a range of tests, assessments and student work over time will provide the most accurate information about your child’s strengths and needs. The schools will share the results of these tests with parents when they are received in the district.

A good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast will help your child to be healthy and attentive each day of school including these days of testing. Once a testing session begins, students may not enter the room. Please be sure that your child arrives to school on time each day. In addition, the State requires that students make up any missed testing during the month of March. Efforts to avoid absences during testing (such as doctor’s appointments) would be appreciated.