Superintendent's Digest

Archive: 2015–16

April 2016

Carl D. Perkins Grant - Intent to Apply forms are due by April 29, 2016 (March 14, 2016)

March 2016

Academic Office newsletter for March 2016

Connecticut SAT School Day Letter for Parents/Guardians regarding score:
- English
- English
- Spanish
- Spanish

Academic Office

Statutory references about student participation in annual state assessments (March 11, 2016)

Improving Participation Rates on State Assessments Roundtable Materials (February 29, 2016)

Academic Office newsletter for January 2016 (January 26, 2016)

Academic Office newsletter for December 2015 (December 22, 2015)
- SAT family brochure, SAT FAQs - Districts, SAT FAQs - Superintendents

The biennial review of universal screening reading assessments for grades K-3 will begin in March 2016 (December 11, 2016)

The State Board of Education approved the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (November 4, 2015)

Important information about college career pathways and dual enrollment courses (October 27, 2015)

The State Board of Education approved the adoption of the SAT as the mastery examination to be administered to Grade 11 students, effective spring 2016 (October 7, 2015)

The State Board of Education approved the adoption of the Connecticut English Language Proficiency Standards (October 7, 2015)

Professional development opportunities (August 19, 2015)

A toolkit of Smarter Balanced assessment materials is available for district use. These materials may be customized when presenting Smarter Balanced results to educators, boards of education, families, and community members. The Smarter Balanced Results Toolkit and Supports for Districts, Schools, and Educators are available in the August 3, 2015, edition of Student Assessment News. (August 3, 2015)

Survey regarding the 2016 Smarter Balanced assessment testing window (October 27, 2015)

Academic Office newsletter for October 2015 (October 30, 2015)

Academic Office newsletter for September 2015 (September 8, 2015)

The State Department of Education issued a set of Smarter Balanced Parent Guides, parent resources for understanding what their children should learn and be able to do this year, and helpful suggestions for supporting children’s learning at home.

Commissioner's Office

View a recording of the June 15, 2016, webinar, ESSA Overview & 2016 Regulatory Process. Download the presentation (PDF).

Highlights from Connecticut's approved ESEA flexibility request (September 22, 2015)

Guidance for districts regarding transgender students and refugees (May 19, 2016)

The 2016 statewide SAT administration date is Wednesday, March 2, 2016. The 2016 statewide SAT makeup date is Wednesday, April 27, 2016. In the unlikely event of a weather delay on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, the Connecticut SAT may be administered as long as the delay is not more than 90 minutes. Delays beyond 90 minutes cause elevated test security risks and will require the district to administer the Connecticut SAT on the makeup date. View additional details (October 30, 2015)

A message from the Department of Consumer Protection about epinephrine in public schools and a list of properly credentialed drug wholesalers (September 09, 2015)

A summary of education-related legislation enacted in the 2015 sessions of the Connecticut General Assembly

The State Board of Education adopted the Guidelines for Mastery-Based Learning (MBL) at its meeting on June 3. A list of frequently asked questions about MBL is also available. (June 17, 2015)

Commissioner's Back-to-School Meeting (August 19, 2015)

Finance Office

New legislation makes significant modifications to the minimum budget requirement (MBR) calculation

Uniform Chart of Accounts (UCOA) update

Update on the SDE's Uniform Chart of Accounts (UCOA) project to develop and implement an accounting system for the reporting of school and district education revenues and expenditures. (March 9, 2015)

Legal Office

Racial composition statistics for school districts to analyze any disparity in racial diversity that may exist among their schools (May 16, 2016)

The ED003 form, which collects information on teacher and administrator contracts, is due from districts by March 4

Performance Office

Data collection and reporting updates/reminders (June 14, 2016)

Kindergarten assessment (May 2, 2016)

Increased flexibility for the Connecticut Physical Fitness Assessment (April 26, 2016)

Overview of the two-part Educator Evaluation Data Collection (EEDC) for 2014-15

Read the June 2016 issue of the Performance Office newsletter

Results from the March 2, 2016, Connecticut SAT School Day assessment will be available to students using their accounts through the College Board portal on May 10, 2016. Districts will be able to download their data through the portal on May 12. More information

Read the May 2016 issue of the Performance Office newsletter