Test Scores Down - Connecticut Scores Another Poor Grade

August 31, 2006

New Haven: John DeStefano, Democratic candidate for governor, says today's announcement by the Connecticut Department of Education that Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) scores declined this year for 10th graders in all four subject areas and that the achievement gap isn't improving are just the latest examples of Gov. Rell's failure to show leadership on educating our children.

"Sadly, this is more proof that Connecticut is heading in the wrong direction and new leadership is needed in the Governor's office," said Derek Slap, Director of Communications for the DeStefano campaign. "Test scores are declining and the achievement gap is among the worst in the United States. Connecticut used to be a national leader in education but under Governors Rowland and Rell public education has been under-funded and our children have suffered. Connecticut can do better." As governor, John DeStefano would implement universal pre-k so every three and four year-old has access to a pre-k experiencem, one of the major tenets of his 'Every Child Reads by Third Grade' policy.

A news release from the Connecticut Department of Education concerning the 2006 CAPT shows that, "fewer 10th graders met the state goal in reading, writing, mathematics, and science in 2006 than in 2005." Statistics also show that, "among blacks, 11 percent met the state goals in math and science, 17 percent in reading and 25 percent in writing. Results for Hispanic students showed 15 percent met the goals in math and science, 19 percent in reading and 26 percent in writing."

This announcement just comes two days after the State Dept. of Education released SAT scores for the state's public school students. Once again, results show a decline: scores in mathematics and reading for 2006 were lower than in 2005.

Last week, results of the 2006 Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) showed that more than one third of the state's elementary and middle schools failed to meet the standards of the No Child Left Behind law. All told, 290 schools made the list, nearly double the amount from one year ago.

State Sen. Gary LeBeau, representing East Hartford and South Windsor, says, "We have kids coming to school who don't know the alphabet and who don't know their colors. This is our future workforce and it says a lot about the future of our economy. Universal pre-k is very important."

The number of three and four year-olds in priority school districts who don't have access to a pre-k experience reached more than 18,000 last year. In Gov. Rell's latest budget she proposed adding just 500 spots. At this rate it would take 36 years for all 3 and 4 year-olds to have access to a quality pre-k experience.