Student Assessment
Current law and the State Board of Education regulations require the administration of criterion-referenced tests (CRTs), and norm-referenced tests (NRTs). ALL students are expected to participate in state assessments.
Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the state-mandated criterion-referenced testing was combined with norm-reference testing, presently the Stanford Achievement Test, Tenth Edition (SAT-10), to form the Augmented Benchmark Examinations at grades 3-8.
The Augmented Benchmark Examinations include the CRT component, which focuses on measuring student performance on items specifically developed by Arkansas teachers and the Arkansas Department of Education that align with the Arkansas Mathematics and English Language Arts Curriculum Frameworks, and the NRT component, which focuses on rank-ordering student performance based on national norms and contains items in the subsections of reading comprehension, math problem solving, and language.
Additionally, in grades 5 and 7, the Augmented Benchmark Examinations contain a science portion, which includes CRT items that align specifically to the Arkansas Science Curriculum Frameworks and NRT items in science.
In grades 9-12, the state-mandated CRT includes the Grade 11 Literacy Examination and End-of-Course Examinations in algebra I, geometry, and biology. The Grade 11 Literacy Examination includes items that are aligned to the English Language Arts Curriculum Framework. The End-of-Course Examinations include items that are aligned to the standards of specific courses contained within the Arkansas Mathematics and Science Curriculum Frameworks. Items for both the Grade 11 Literacy Examination and End-of-Course Examinations were developed by Arkansas teachers and the Arkansas Department of Education.
The Arkansas Alternate Portfolio Assessment System is designed to evaluate the performance of students with significant cognitive disabilities for whom the aforementioned examinations, administered with or without appropriate accommodations, are not appropriate.
The Alternate Portfolio must be administered for literacy in grades 3-8 and 11, mathematics in grades 3-8, and science for grades 5 and 7. All 9th grade students with disabilities who are not taking algebra I or geometry must be assessed with an alternate portfolio for math. Additionally, all 10th grade students with disabilities who are not taking biology must be assessed with an alternate portfolio for science.
Norm-referenced testing, presently the Stanford Achievement Test, Tenth Edition (SAT-10), is administered in grades K-2 and grade 9 in reading comprehension and math problem solving. The Qualls Early Learning Inventory (QELI) is administered at the beginning of the school year to all kindergarten students and to any first grade student who did not attend Kindergarten.
The Algebra II Examination is a criterion-referenced test established through a multi-state consortium. Items developed for the Algebra II Examination are aligned to the algebra II course standards contained within the Arkansas Mathematics Curriculum Framework.
Performance Levels for the Benchmark and End of Course Exams
Advanced: Advanced students demonstrate superior performance well beyond proficient grade level performance. They can apply Arkansas established reading, writing, and mathematics skills to solve complex problems and complete demanding tasks on their own. They can make insightful connections between abstract and concrete ideas as well as provide well-supported explanations and arguments.
Proficient: Proficient students demonstrate solid academic performance for the grade tested and are well-prepared for the next level of schooling. They can use Arkansas established reading, writing, and mathematics skills and knowledge to solve problems and complete tasks on their own. Students can tie ideas together and explain the ways their ideas are connected.
Basic: Basic students show substantial skills in reading, writing, and mathematics; however, they only partially demonstrate the abilities to apply these skills. They demonstrate a need for some additional assistance, commitment or study to reach the proficient level.
Below Basic: Below basic students fail to show sufficient mastery of skills in reading, writing, and mathematics to attain the basic level
Accessing Results
The Benchmark Exam results, as well as the results for the End-of-Course Exams and the Grade 11 Literacy Exam are posted on the School Report Cards 2005 link of the National Office for Research, Measurement and Evaluation Systems (NORMES) School Performance Data site.
Test scores may also be found in the Testing section of the Arkansas Department of Education Web site. |
