Connecticut State Department of Education

Teacher of the Year Ceremony
Due to inclement weather, the Teacher of the Year Ceremony has been postponed to December 16, 2025 from 5-7pm. Doors will open at 4pm. The Ceremony will take place at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, and the order of events will remain the same.

Actionable Assessment and Data-Driven Decision Making

Students achieve improved literacy outcomes when educators utilize assessment data from multiple evidence-aligned sources to guide and differentiate their instruction and identify students needing targeted intervention.

“During the fall of 2024, New Haven Public Schools fully implemented DIBELS 8 utilizing mClass as a K-3 Universal Screener. We have worked with our teachers to provide ongoing professional learning in administering the assessment with fidelity, analyzing the data to drive instructional decision making, using the small group teacher led interventions and progress monitoring every two to four weeks. Our teachers have a clear focus for small group instruction, providing explicit and systematic lessons focused on the Science of Reading that meet the needs of their learners resulting in positive student learning outcomes.” 

—New Haven Public Schools: Jennifer Tousignant, Supervisor of Elementary Reading and Language Arts

Literacy Assessment

Literacy assessment plays a key role in understanding and supporting the development of literacy skills.

Resources

Assessment practices must be evidence-aligned; they also must be sensible.