Department members regularly review results of standardized tests, including State mandated tests, and District selected ability and achievement tests. Matching test scores to objectives, the Department considers curriculum alignment with State and national standards, and identifies areas of strength and weakness. Interpreting test scores to the instructional staff and to the general community is a function of the Department.
In addition to standardized testing, informal assessments are used to guide instruction. While teacher-constructed tests have traditionally been used to evaluate students, the Department is working with teachers to develop and use performance tasks that extend student learning and require the use of "real-world" skills and applications. Newly developed curriculum guides include performance tasks under consideration for use as benchmark tasks. Program leaders are currently working with middle school teachers to develop end of year assessments in all areas of instruction.
The following is a breakdown of district-wide testing:
BOEHM Boehm Test of Basic Concepts - Kindergarten
The BOEHM test measures mastery of those basic language concepts generally considered important for complying with verbal directions and for achievement during the first years of school.
Gates-MacGinitie - Grade 1
This test measures comprehension and vocabulary.
Woodcock Reading Test - Elementary students as needed
Diagnostic tool to assess reading skills in the following areas: Visual Auditory Learning, Letter Identification, Word Identification, Word Attack, Word Comprehension, Passage Comprehension
CMT - March - Grades 3 - 8
The CMT is administered to public school students statewide. The test is designed to measure student progress in direct relationship to the learning objectives identified by the Connecticut State Dept. of Education. The test consists of a mathematics section, a writing sample, a reading comprehension section (Degrees of Reading Power), and a language arts component. See the CT State Dept. Website for more informtion.
DRP Degrees of Reading Power -
This test measures a student's reading comprehension.
MAT7 Metropolitan Achievement Test
The MAT7 provides an assessment for measuring student achievement in reading, mathematics and language. The questions focus on the ability to integrate, process, and apply a variety of thinking strategies and skills to a specific content area.
OLSAT Otis-Lennon School Ability Test
The OLSAT assesses students abilities in reasoning and problem solving using verbal, quantitative, and spatial (non-verbal) symbols. Processes measured through performance on: verbal comprehension, verbal reasoning, pictorial reasoning, figural reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. When administered with the MAT7, a comparison of ability and school achievement is obtained.
IAAT Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test - Spring - All Grade 7
The test emphasis is on understanding of concepts, rather than on computational skill. The four subtests focus on: Interpreting Mathematical Information, Translating to Symbols, Finding Relationships, Using symbols. Students are selected for the algebra program on the basis of performance on the IATT, Grade 7 MAT7 & OLSAT, and student achievement.
CAPT Connecticut Academic Performance Test - March - Grade 10
The CAPT is a component of the statewide mastery program and is taken by all tenth grade high students attending public schools. The test consists of mathematics, language arts, science, and interdisciplinary sections. Students who do not achieve the state goal on one or more subtests will retake those subtest(s) in Grades 11 and/or 12. See the CT State Dept. Website for more informtion.
District Level Writing Assessment
This assessment measures a student's writing ability according to his/her grade level.
District Level End-of-Year Math Assessment - Spring Grades 1- 8
These assessments measure whether a student has mastered the curriculum objectives.
CPFA CT Physical Fitness Assessment - Grades 4, 6, 8, 10
The CPFA is used to determine the physical fitness levels of students in Grades 4, 6, 8, and 10. The test measures flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, and cardiovascular endurance.
Presidential Physical Fitness Assessment - Grades 2 - 8
This test is given to assess how students perform against the national standards on the five sub-tests: Sit and Reach, Sit-ups, Pull-ups, Mile Run, and Shuttle Run. The test measures agility, flexibility, upper body strength, muscular and cardiovascular endurance.
High School Advanced Placement Examination - Qualified grade 11 & 12 students
Advanced Placement Examinations are designed for high school students desiring college credit for college level courses and admission to advanced courses. The tests are administered annually on specified days in May.
PSAT/NMSQT Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test /National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
The PSAT is a shortened version of the SAT and is administered in October. Three scores are provided: verbal, mathematical, and a selection index for scholarship consideration by consideration by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
SAT- Scholastic Assessment Test - Grades 10 - 12
The SAT is designed to assess many of the many of the skills that are important to students success in college. Because the subject matter of high school courses as well grading standards vary widely, the test have been developed to provide a common standard against which students can be compared. See the SAT Website for dates and more informtion.
|
