Mixed Results for Madison Students on Standardized Tests

Madison statistically has one of the best school systems in the country and standardized test results continue to show that students test well.

Madison students improved over last year on the Connecticut Mastery Test, while they slightly declined on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test, according to the Board of Education’s meeting minutes.

In Madison: Grade 5, 96% of all students reach proficiency with a .3 increase this year compared to last. In Grade 8, 94% of all students reached proficiency with a .8 increase.

CAPT scores indicate that 96.3% of all students reached proficiency compared to 98.1% last year.

Gail Dahling-Hench, who is assistant superintendent of schools for curriculum, noted that last year, the Commissioner of Education stated that there were too many differences in the Common Core to modify the CMT/CAPT, according to meeting minutes.

“This current data does not inform our instruction, or tell us how our learners are doing in relation to the district vision. As shared at prior BOE meetings, we have done considerable work with moving from specific “test prep” practices to building true understanding of concepts and transfer of true understanding,” Dahling-Hench said according to meeting minutes. “

We measure that by creating complex assessments that are based in authentic real world situations. As a district, we need to consider the value and emphasis we place on standardized measures. If we place too much emphasis on any one indicator, the chances of teaching to the test, or creating a system that values a narrow definition of student success, then threatens the work we seek to accomplish,” Dahling-Hench said.