6146.2(a)

Annually, each student enrolled in grades three through eight inclusive shall take a mastery examination or examinations that measures essential and grade appropriate skills in reading, writing or mathematics during the time period specified by the State Department of Education.  Students enrolled in grade eleven shall annually take a nationally recognized college readiness assessment (Connecticut SAT School Day in English Language Arts and math) 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 eleven shall , annually, during the time period specified by the State Department of Education, take a state-wide mastery examination that measures essential and grade appropriate skill sin science (Next Generation Science Standards).  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. 

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.  Any alternate assessment, including the Connecticut Alternate Assessment, 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 eight and eleven shall be assessed with the Connecticut Alternative Assessment in English Language Arts and mathematics.  In science, eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities shall be assessed with the Connecticut Alternate Science Assessment in grades five, eight, and eleven.  In compliance with federal law, out-of-level testing is not an option for students enrolled in special 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.  In addition, all students identified as English Learners shall take the LAS Links Assessment.

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 threshold on the state summative assessments. 

 

6146.2(b)

 

Statewide Proficiency/Mastery Examinations  (continued)

(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)

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.

PA 15-238 An Act Concerning Student Assessments

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

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

 

Policy adopted:	April 11, 2000
Policy revised:	May 11, 2004		HAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Policy revised:	November 12, 2019		Hamden, Connecticut