TESTING & ASSESSMENT

Students in Unit 10 are assessed on an annual basis with different Illinois State Assessments. The assessments used vary from grade level and individual student needs. All test scores are used to measure the District and School's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). AYP represents the annual academic performance targets in reading and math that the State, school districts, and schools must reach to be considered on track for 100% proficiency by school year 2013-14, which is established in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

The Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE), Illinois Measure of Annual Growth in English (IMAGE) and the Illinois Alternate Assessment (IAA) are all assessments used for students in Illinois. The data from the reading and mathematics portions of these assessments is used to determine the AYP for each school and district.

The ISAT measures individual student achievement relative to the Illinois Learning Standards. The results give parents, teachers, and schools one measure of student learning and school performance. Students in grades 3-8 are assessed in the areas of reading and mathematics. Students in grades 4 and 7 will also be assessed in science. Beginning in the spring of 2007, students will also be assessed in the area of writing at grades 3 and 5. Grade 6 will add writing in 2008 and grade 3 will add writing in 2009. The ISAT will be administered March 12-23, 2007 to all students in the district.

The PSAE measures the achievement of grade 11 students relative to the Illinois Learning Standards for reading, mathematics, and science. The PSAE includes three components: (1) an ISBE-developed science assessment; (2) the ACT, which includes reading, English, mathematics, and science tests; and (3) two WorkKeys assessments (Reading for Information and Applied Mathematics). High school students are required to take the PSAE as a condition of receiving a regular high school diploma in the state of Illinois (Public Act 93-857) unless a student is exempted for one of the following reasons: a student has an IEP that states they must take the IAA, the student is eligible to take the IMAGE or the student is enrolled in and Adult and Continuing Education Program (and not dually enrolled in their local school district). The PSAE will be given April 26-27, 2007, with make up dates May 9-10, 2007.

The IMAGE measures individual student achievement relative to the Illinois Learning Standards. The results give parents, teacher and schools one measure of student learning and school performance in math and reading. IMAGE is administered to qualifying English Language Learners or Limited English Proficient students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11. The IMAGE will be given to students in grades 3-8 at the same time the ISAT is given and students in grade 11 will take the IMAGE when the PSAE is given.

The Illinois Alternate Assessment (IAA) is the yardstick the state uses to measure the learning of students with significant cognitive disabilities. Students with severe disabilities take the IAA if participation in the state's regular assessments Ð the Illinois Standards Achievement Test or the Prairie State Achievement Examination Ð is not appropriate. Rather than a pencil-and-paper format, the IAA uses a portfolio of student work collected over the course of the school year. Students in grades 3, 5, 6, and 8 take the IAA in reading and mathematics. Students in grades 4, 7, and 11 take the IAA in reading, mathematics, and science. Writing will also be given to students in grades 5, 8 and 11 this year (new in 2007). Dates for collection are held throughout the year. A complete listing can be found on the calendar.

Information regarding individual student scores will be sent home with students sometime in the fall. Reports containing information from each school as well as the district will also be reported on the School Report Cards or on the Interactive Illinois Report Card site. This site will provide you with information on our schools and district as well as others throughout the state.

** Source: http://isbe.net/assessment/default.htm