Results from statewide student tests conducted in 2013 are mixed, with data showing Connecticut's achievement gap between wealthy and poor communities widening in some cases while narrowing in others.
But Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said Tuesday there are signs that some of the public education initiatives spearheaded two years ago by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy are working. He pointed to improvements in student performance at four historically low-performing schools that are now part of the so-called "Commissioner's Network" and receive additional support.
Performance on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test, administered to 10th graders, improved slightly in math, science and reading, but decreased slightly in writing.
Performance on the Connecticut Mastery Test, administered mostly to elementary school students, decreased. It was blamed on a new shift away from traditional classroom instruction.
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