Math & reading standards and testing in Connecticut
Updated June 2026
Connecticut adopted the Common Core State Standards for ELA and math, focusing on critical thinking and real-world application. Students in grades 3-8 take the Smarter Balanced computer-adaptive tests each spring.
Does Connecticut hold kids back in 3rd grade for reading?
No. Connecticut has no statewide test-based 3rd-grade retention requirement; promotion is local.
Standards
Common Core State Standards
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards, so grade-level skills match what most of the country teaches.
The key test
The Connecticut state test
Smarter Balanced covers both math and reading in grades 3-8.
Reading the results
Spring, typically March to June.
Levels 1 to 4; Levels 3 to 4 are proficient.
On grade level means Level 3 or above on Smarter Balanced ELA.
What's distinctive about Connecticut
Connecticut administers Smarter Balanced under its Connecticut Sensible Assessment System branding.
Practice the skills, by grade
Whatever Connecticut calls its test, the underlying math and reading skills are grade-level. Practice them directly:
Practice the skills behind the test
Connecticut teaches the Common Core standards. What a third grader has to do does not change: multiply, find the main idea, read a paragraph and say what it meant. KangarooKiddo drills those skills in daily sessions of a handful of questions that end on their own. You see where your kid actually stands, they earn rewards you set up and approve.
Source: Connecticut Department of Education. Verified for the 2025-26 school year; policies can change, so confirm with your school.
Nearby states: Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · New Jersey
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