SDE: test scores, attendance improved in many districts; chronic absence dropped notably

SDE staff told legislators the state's assessment and attendance data show positive trends since the pandemic: math and science scores rose for the fourth consecutive year, ELA improved for the second year in a row, and statewide chronic absenteeism declined.

"Math and science fourth year in a row of improvement. We're close to pre-pandemic levels now," Ajit said, presenting the department's assessment release. The Commissioner added context, noting that the averages represent thousands of individual students: small percentage improvements can reflect large absolute numbers of students advancing.

On attendance, Ajit cited a decline in chronic absence "over 7 percentage points for all students and over 10 percentage points for students with high needs," a change that SDE presenters said amounts to roughly 35,000 more students attending regularly than four years earlier. The Commissioner and multiple legislators praised local LEAP efforts and $7 million in funding earmarked to sustain the LEAP program.

SDE also reported gains at school and district levels: dozens of districts exceeded pre‑pandemic performance in at least one subject and multiple schools were recognized as 'schools of distinction' for high performance or high growth among high‑need students. Superintendent McCary, citing Vernon and Middletown examples, described targeted investments — instructional coaches and tutoring — as drivers of measurable gains.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 214; topfinish SEG 1746.

Speakers referenced in this article: Ajit; Commissioner; Superintendent McCary; Representative Leaper.

Topics: assessment_results, attendance

Topics justification & scores: [{"name":"school_performance","justification":"Article summarizes statewide assessment and attendance changes presented by SDE.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.95,"depth_score":0.70,"opinionatedness":0.03,"controversy":0.30,"civic_salience":0.80,"impactfulness":0.70,"geo_relevance":1.00}}]

Proper names: [{"name":"Smarter Balanced","type":"other"},{"name":"NGSS","type":"other"},{"name":"LEAP","type":"program"}]

Clarifying details: [{"category":"assessment_release_date","detail":"SDE released state assessment results publicly on August 31 (public release) and provided preliminary results to districts in mid‑May.","detail":"public release Aug 31; districts received results earlier","source_speaker":"Ajit"},{"category":"attendance_change","detail":"Chronic absence down over 7 percentage points overall and over 10 percentage points for students with high needs (example: from 34% to 23.8%).","source_speaker":"Ajit"}],

Claims_matrix:[{"speaker":"Ajit","speaker_role":"SDE presenter","speaker_affiliation":"State Department of Education","claim":"Chronic absence is down over 7 percentage points overall and over 10 percentage points for students with high needs (from 34% to 23.8%).","claim_type":"assertion","target":"attendance trends","target_type":"other","status":"clarified_in_hearing","response":"Speakers and legislators acknowledged the magnitude and praised LEAP funding; SDE provided the percentage point comparisons as context.","response_speaker":"Representative Leaper","response_speaker_role":"Representative","transcript_segments":[{"block_id_start":"SEG 324","block_id_end":"SEG 361","evidence_excerpt":"chronic absence down over 7 percentage points for all students and over 10 percentage points for students with high needs...from 34% to 23.8%.","reason_code":"topicintro"}],"notes":"SDE cited the specific percentage point changes during the briefing."}]

Speakers:[{"name":"Ajit","role_title":"","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"State Department of Education","first_reference":{"block_id_start":"SEG 214"}},{"name":"Commissioner","role_title":"Commissioner","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"State Department of Education","first_reference":{"block_id_start":"SEG 065"}},{"name":"Superintendent McCary","role_title":"Superintendent of Schools (Middletown)","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"","first_reference":{"block_id_start":"SEG 350"}}],

Provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id_start":"SEG 214","block_id_end":"SEG 276","evidence_excerpt":"this year one of the pieces we did was we released some feedback to districts...we released our state assessment results end of August, August 31st.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id_start":"SEG 321","block_id_end":"SEG 336","evidence_excerpt":"chronic absence down over 7 percentage points for all students and over 10 percentage points for students with high needs.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}