Defining Educational Proficiency and Achievement in Connecticut

As standardized tests take on ever-increasing importance in student, school, district and even teacher assessments, it is important to consider how these tests define achievement. There are two different tests that are most often used to measure achievement in Connecticut: the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The CMT and NAEP each seek to measure student achievement, but set their standards for adequate achievement at different points. As a result, the CMT results suggest greater achievement among Connecticut’s students than the NAEP results indicate.