An Overview of Student Testing at JES

STATE ASSESSMENTS:

NECAP: New England Common Assessment Program - (given in Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island)

Fall -- (began 2005)

  Grades 3 to 6: Reading & Math

  Grade 5 only: Writing

Spring -- (began 2008)

  Grade 4 only: Science

NSRE: New Standards Reference Exam - Grade 4, spring (1998 through 2005) - VT only

Common characteristics of the State assessments:

· Standards-based (students are measured against a standard of achievement, not each other)

· Performance-based (many questions are not multiple choice, eg. write essay, read aloud, conduct experiment, do math word problem and show work)

· Some subjectivity in scoring (not all questions have right/wrong answers)

· Score reporting similar to "pass/fail" or "letter grades".

  NECAP scores are reported as:  

  NECAP: "Proficient" (which combines the two top performance levels) OR broken down into four performance levels: "Proficient with Distinction/Proficient/Partially Proficient/Substantially Below Proficient".

· Local, regional/LNSU, statewide comparisons; no national comparisons

LOCAL ASSESSMENTS

These tests are not specifically mandated by the State, although every school must have have local assessments in addition to the required State tests that meet certain requirements.

SAT: Stanford Achievement Test - Grades 1 through 6 Reading, Writing & Math; Grades 3 to 6, also Science & Social Studies

· "Norm-referenced", students measured against performance of other students.

· Mainly multiple choice-type questions with a single answer

· Objective scoring (by machine)

· Scores reported as percentile ranking in relation to others in same grade nationally

· National comparisons, none statewide

· Given since 1993

AIMSWeb Progress Monitoring System

Beginning in the fall of 2009, JES will use this web-based software schoolwide as a tool for continuous monitoring of student achievement.  "Benchmark" tests are given to all students three times per year.  Those students whose scores fall short of expectations will then be given more frequent "probes" in order to track their progress and make adjustments to instruction.

Additional literacy assessments .

Various other literacy assessments are given in grades K through 6.

Other assessments :

· VISMT problem-solving assessment, grades 2 and 6

· Testing embedded in the Addison-Wesley math program and the McGraw-Hill language arts program, both used school-wide.

· Varied classrooms assessments