Connecticut House Bill HB06809

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/17
• Refer: 1/25/17

Caption

An Act Prohibiting Bias In State Mastery Examinations By Providing A Fair, Valid And Reliable Estimate Of A Student's Overall Performance.

Impact

The bill proposes to amend Title 10 of the general statutes, which governs education regulations in the state. It mandates establishing guidelines to scrutinize and monitor factors that could affect examination outcomes, such as variations in student computer skills and the alignment of adaptive testing systems. By implementing these changes, HB06809 aims to improve the integrity of mastery examinations while ensuring they are aligned with broader educational objectives and standards rather than merely serving as high-stakes evaluation tools.

Summary

House Bill 06809 aims to reform the state's mastery examinations in education by prohibiting any bias in assessments used to evaluate student performance. The bill emphasizes creating a fair, valid, and reliable estimate of students' overall performance relative to grade-appropriate standards. Specifically, it seeks to enhance the existing examination framework to ensure a balanced and equitable evaluation process, thereby promoting diversity in curricula and preventing the over-reliance on test scores for critical educational decisions such as student promotion and graduation.

Contention

A notable point of contention around HB06809 is the debate over the adequacy of mastery examinations as singular indicators of educational success. Critics argue that reliance on such examinations can lead to inequitable outcomes, especially for students with differing levels of access to technology or test preparation resources. Supporters of the bill contend that its provisions would mitigate these concerns by introducing more comprehensive assessment measures and protecting students' rights to fair evaluations. As discussions progress, key stakeholders in the education sector will need to address these disparities to ensure the bill's implementation benefits all students equitably.