“These test results give us a new opportunity to know how our students are progressing towards our new,
higher standards that better reflect the knowledge and skills they’ll need to succeed in the future.”
– Big Six Coalition

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On August 28, 2015, the State Department of Education released the baseline results from the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) from the 2014-15 school year. The release revealed that student scores mirror Connecticut’s results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, but seem to reflect a lower achievement level than previously determined by the state’s former assessments. Earlier tests were not aligned to Connecticut’s new, higher academic standards.

In response to the release of these results, members of the Big 6, a coalition of education advocates from throughout the state, offered the following comments:

“For parents, getting results that suddenly look different and lower than we are used to might be alarming. It’s important to understand that these results cannot be compared to Connecticut’s previous exams in any way – the Smarter Balanced test is measuring students’ progress towards an entirely new and higher goal,” said Jeffrey Villar, Executive Director of CCER. “This year’s test results are a baseline, a starting point from which we should see steady improvements in years to come.”

“Our students need a great education that they can count on to prepare them for the challenges ahead. The release of these new results gives us an opportunity, like never before, to see how our students’ progress compare to students in other states,” said Jennifer Alexander, CEO of ConnCAN. “We must use this information as a new beginning to help all our students succeed.”

“It is important that we use the baseline data from this year’s exam, along with a number of other indicators, to identify our students’ strengths and areas where improvement is needed,” said Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of CAS “Data should not be feared. It should be embraced as an opportunity to discover areas of strength and areas where we can adjust and innovate to improve student learning and ensure every child is getting an education that sets them up for a lifetime of success and opportunity.

“It is incredibly important that our students develop the skills they’ll need to be successful in the workforce while they are in school today,” said Joe Brennan, President and CEO of CBIA. “The Smarter Balanced Assessment results help give us critical insights that Connecticut’s previous standardized tests simply could not. Connecticut’s employers need graduates who have the skills and knowledge to fill the talent pipeline , and the Smarter Balanced Assessment and standards will help us get there. We will now be able to see how well our children are currently progressing to meet higher standards, and we can use this data to help them grow in ways that that will prepare them for bright futures. ”

“The SBAC results measure higher levels of learning and enable us to learn new details about our progress so that all children develop the deep knowledge and critical thinking skills kids that they will need to be successful,” said Joe Cirasuolo, Executive Director of CAPSS. “Now, we need to study and use this information to help us ensure our students are prepared for success and to ensure the future prosperity of Connecticut.”

“As we prepare our students for their future, the new tests are an essential part of our system of delivering higher academic standards that the public has long desired. Our partnership is proud to support a system that will result in improved learning for all of our children,” said Patrice McCarthy, Deputy Director and General Counsel for CABE.

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The Big Six partnership includes the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS), the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS), the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), and the Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER).