April 22, 2016

2015 Achievement Gap Data

OLR Report 2016-R-0026 analyzes recent data on Connecticut's educational achievement gap.  Connecticut primarily measures student performance using the Smarter Balanced Assessment, commonly called SBAC because it was developed by the multi-state Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. 

The consortium created SBAC to align with Common Core State Standards, which Connecticut adopted in 2010.  According to the State Department of Education, SBAC scores reflect both the degree to which the new standards are implemented and the degree to which students have learned them. 

The SBAC data shows that Connecticut continues to have significant disparities in test scores between (1) racial groups, (2) high-needs and non-high-needs students, and (3) students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and those not eligible.

For more information, read the full report here.