February 7, 2014

Dear Parent / Guardian:

As many of you are aware, this is the final year for the administration of the CMT and CAPT assessments for grades 3-8 and grade 10 in reading, writing, and math. The Smarter Balanced (SBAC) test, the next generation state test, will begin full administration across the state in the 2014-2015 school year in the areas of reading, writing, and math. All districts will be required to continue to administer the CMT and CAPT science test for the foreseeable future.

Districts were granted the three options for the spring of 2014:

1. Administer CMT and CAPT only
2. Administer Smarter Balanced field test only
3. Administer both CMT/CAPT and Smarter Balanced field test

The Madison Public Schools has elected to administer the CMT/CAPT for this final year for the four primary reasons outlined below. The district respects and appreciates the need to conduct the SBAC field test, but, not at the expense of a potential negative experience for any one of our students.

According to formal information shared with the public from the State Department of Education and the test developer, the SBAC field test will be administered to “gather the information necessary for final evaluation of item quality,” and that “data from field testing are used to select appropriate items for future forms of a test.” This specific information has caused a reluctance to have our students participate in a field test that is being used to determine the appropriateness of particular items/questions. It is very possible that our students will be posed with questions that are not appropriate for their grade/developmental level in an effort to determine the quality of test questions for future forms of the test. Although the district has been assured that the SBAC field test is not expected to pose the same problems that were experienced in New York last spring when the state administered a similar type test, there still is a potential risk for our students to have a negative experience due to item quality and for other reasons.

Secondly, the academic standards tested on this particular test, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), have been implemented in districts across the state for a relatively short period of time. The district maintains that it is premature to place our children in a test-setting environment in which students have not been taught these new standards for an extended period of time.

Third, if we were to administer a computerized test this spring, a significant amount of time will need to be dedicated to familiarizing the students with merely “how” to take the test. Test specific practice will necessitate that teachers take time away from their actual teaching to prepare for the technology tools required on this test. By delaying our participation until it is mandated next spring (2015), we can introduce the technology tools in a more deliberate fashion and minimize the impact on real teaching time.

Finally, for the parents of our special education students, there is an overall concern about our special education students participating in the SBAC field test. Any special education student who participated in the modified assessment system (MAS) in prior years will be required to take the standard test if the district elects the SBAC field test this spring. This is a cause for concern, particularly, having our special needs students participating in a field test which may not be sensitive to their specific needs, and which will not generate any relevant information for their Individual Education Plan (IEP). Additionally, we were advised in the formal information shared with the district from the State Department of Education that “it would be necessary to amend Individual Education Plans (IEP) as required for compliance” with federal and state law for any special education students. The district is reluctant to amend an IEP for the purposes of a field test.

Although the CMT and CAPT do not fully align with our instructional program any longer due to a change in language arts and math academic standards, particularly the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), the district is bound by law to administer a state test to grades 3-8 and 10. In an effort to shelter our students from any potentially negative experiences, and for the four primary reasons stated above, we have elected to continue to administer the CMT and CAPT for one final year.

A strong case can be made to place a moratorium on state tests until the SBAC test is fully operational, and until districts have fully implemented the new academic standards (CCSS) for an extended period of time. However, the district is not at liberty to refuse to administer a state test to students in grades 3-8, and grade 10. By delaying until the SBAC is mandated for all districts in 2015, it is expected that the State Department of Education will make any necessary adjustments to ensure an appropriate experience for our students in 2015.

I encourage any parent or guardian, who has any questions, comments, or concerns on this matter to contact me directly. 

Sincerely,

Thomas R. Scarice
Superintendent

A copy of this letter will be mailed to each household.