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Curriculum & Assessment > School and District Assessment School and District Assessment
Assessments have always existed in education, but today we witness a "perfect storm convergence" of conditions that make assessment a visible focal point. We are in an era of accountability, have access to more data, and are expected to provide differentiated instruction to a wide-range of learners. And while data generated from assessments can be a powerful tool, if utilized properly.
SAU 29 believes in "triangulation"–or looking at multiple data points in an effort to drive decision making.
- Preassessments: assessments that gauge the learners’ prior knowledge, skill, or understanding before initial instruction occurs. An example of this would be a teacher-created quiz about multiplication that would be given to students prior to a new multiplication math unit. The information helps teachers understand who has already mastered the learning target.
- Formative Assessment: assessments that occur during instruction to provide data on how to steer or “inform” subsequent instruction. An example of this is NWEA’s MAP test.
- Summative Assessment: assessments that occur at the end of instruction to get a final read on what the learner obtained. An example of this is the NECAP test.
NECAP (New England Common Assessment Program):
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What is Tested?
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Who Is Tested?
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When Is Testing?
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What is Done with Testing Data?
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For More Information
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Math
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Grades 3-8 & 11
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October
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Individual student results provided to parents in Spring.
NHDOE uses data to determine if a school and district have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under NCLB.
Schools use these data to help steer school improvement goals and to look at trend data about where to focus professional development.
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How to read NECAP Scores
New England Common Assessment Program
School/District Profiles
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Reading
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Grades 3-8 & 11
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October
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Writing
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Grades 5, 8, 11
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October
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Science
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Grades 4, 8, 11
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May
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Individual student results provided to parents in Fall.
Schools use these data to help steer school improvement goals and to look at trend data about where to focus science professional development or program changes. |
NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress):
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What is Tested?
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Who Is Tested?
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When Is Testing?
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What is Done with Testing Data?
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For More Information
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Math
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Grades 2-10
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Fall and Spring*
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Students are provided a “goal sheet” listing their fall score and a target score to reach by the end of the school year.
Lexile scores are used to create reading groups and match students with texts that are at an appropriate level.
Teachers and grade-levels are provided data to target student strengths and weaknesses (such as increasing the amount of instruction around multiplication for a student that has a low numbers and operations score).
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Lexile Map
Lexile Analyzer
Find-A-Book by Student's Lexile
NWEA Parent Toolkit
Lexile at Home: http://lexile.com/using-lexile/lexile-at-home/
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Reading
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Grades 2-10
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Fall and Spring*
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Language Usage
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Varies per building – the language usage test is not required
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Fall and Spring
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*Grade 8 takes the test in the winter (instead of spring) to provide data for course selection at KHS. *some students take the test in the winter to check growth mid-point through the school year
The MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment provides a understanding of each student’s academic level. These computerized adaptive tests allow students to be scored on the same measure (called a RIT Score) over their entire testing history. This also goal sheet to set school year goals and provides a "target score" to reach by the end of the school year.
In addition to a reading RIT score, students are provided a LEXILE range. The 150-point spread shows how challenging a book, text, or other reading materials should be to provide the optimal growth for reading. We all know that material that is too easy or too hard will bore or frustrate a reader. Matching quality reading material that is "just challenging enough" can cause the reader to grow faster, gain confidence, and further develop a love for reading.
For a “map” of Lexile scores, visit http://www.lexile.com/m/uploads/maps/Lexile-Map.pdf
For more information visit http://www.lexile.com
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