Do CMTs Test How Well our Students are Learning?

Starting Today, March 2, students in grades three to eight will begin taking the Connecticut Mastery Tests. Students are told to eat breakfast, go to sleep early, focus and do their best. Many teachers don’t give homework during this time so students don’t feel too stressed. The question begs: What are we testing for and how important are these test? 

CMTs measure students’ achievement in math, reading, writing and science (grades five to eight). The ultimate goal is for towns and school systems to monitor student performance with the constant goal of improvement. 

Students will spend approximately seven hours taking the CMTs and many more hours practicing how to take the test. The results are reported to schools and parent/guardians. There is no pass or fail but standards are set for each grade level.  Students might score at advanced, goal, proficient, basic or below basic. The results will allow you to see your child’s strengths and weaknesses and perhaps give you insight as to what you can do to improve your child’s academic success. 

CMT time is stressful for students. CMT “talk” begins in kindergarten and continues throughout eighth grade.  Students have spent so much time in the classroom preparing for the test and they want to do their best. With the many days off this winter due to snow storms, rumors flew about CMTs being pushed back so that teachers could get in more prep time. However, that is not the case. Students are testing as scheduled. 

Do schools spend too much time focusing on the CMTs? Is there something else more important that students should be doing in the classroom? 

Have a question you'd like answered by Family Talk? Comment here or email Nichole at Ciprianonikcip@aol.com.