In 1990, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) included a Trial State Assessment (TSA); for the first time in NAEP's history, voluntary state-by-state assessments were made. In 1994, TSA was expanded to include non-public school students. The 1994 reading assessment considered students' proficiency in situations that involved…

The central aspect of Connecticut's agenda for educational equity and excellence is the implementation of statewide mastery testing in mathematics and language arts. The program, designed for grades four, six, and eight, assesses the skill levels of students by measuring their performance on learning objectives they should have mastered in lower…

Examines how the New Milford (Connecticut) School District avoided failing accreditation by creating a plan to convert the deteriorating high school building into an intermediate school for grades four to six. Planning concerns and accomplishments are discussed, including overcoming parental objections, the importance of the cafeteria's location,…

In 1990, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) included a Trial State Assessment (TSA); for the first time in NAEP's history, voluntary state-by-state assessments were made. In 1992, the NAEP Program included an expanded TSA in fourth-grade reading. The 1992 reading assessment considered students' performance in situations that…

A case study analyzed Connecticut's state-level and district-level policies and practices related to its high level of reading achievement. Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and Connecticut's statewide test were analyzed; state and local policies were identified through interviews. Results indicated: on the 1998…

Although businesses and schools make unnatural partners, Stamford, Connecticut's business community is reaching out to disadvantaged youth. GE Capital Services focused on a pen-pal program to improve students' writing skills. Pitney Bowes created an afterschool tutoring/social-support program for neighborhood kids that dramatically boosted reading…

This handbook is part of a series of three, corresponding to the three grades (4, 6, and 8) at which Mastery Tests are administered. This publication was written as a resource for teachers for developing mathematics programs for students in grades 3 and 4. The Mastery Test in Mathematics at Grade 4 assesses student performance for 25 instructional…

In 1984, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the creation of mastery tests in mathematics and language arts (listening, reading, and writing skills) for grades 4, 6, and 8. Criterion-referenced tests were developed to assess the essential skills that should be mastered at the end of grades 3, 5, and 7 and to identify students in need of…