Re: Level Testing

["Archie" <archie@moscow.com>]

Thank you, Cindy.  Your note is very informative.  The testing program shows a great deal of
attention is being directed toward providing individual attention to our students.  The usual
standardized tests leave so much to be desired.  This is the kind of work which should be supported
by a positive vote on the upcoming levy.
-Archie George, Moscow

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bechinski, Cindy" <BechinsC@sd281.k12.id.us>
To: <vision2020@moscow.com>; <hayfields@moscow.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 11:07 AM
Subject: Level Testing


> Good Morning -- I just read the concerns posed on Vision 2020 regarding
> Achievement Level Testing.  I am very glad these questions were asked, and I
> would like to take this opportunity to clarify the purposes of level
> testing, and to provide a brief overview of the new Idaho State Board of
> Education Comprehensive Assessment Program.
>
> * Achievement Level Testing (ALT) consists of a series of tests
> aligned with our state curriculum.
> * ALT provides scores that measure current student achievement levels
> based on a curriculum continuum in the areas of reading, language usage, and
> math.   This information is extremely helpful to teachers in targeting
> individual and class instruction.
> * ALTs also provide scores that compare the performance of our
> students with a large national norm group according to grade level, much
> like the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.
> * Additionally, and very importantly, ALT monitors the growth of each
> student in reading, language usage, and math, from the fall "pretest" to the
> spring "posttest", and from year to year.
> * Prior to the Achievement Level Tests,  Locator Tests (short
> placement tests) are administered to determine the appropriate test levels
> for each student.
> * Achievement Level Testing  was developed by Northwest Evaluation
> Association (NWEA).  NWEA is a nonprofit association which was first
> organized in 1977.  They focus on the use of meaningful data to improve
> instruction.
> * The Idaho State Board of Education has selected NWEA to provide
> Achievement Level Tests for grades 2-9 statewide beginning in the fall of
> 2002.
> * The State Board has also selected NWEA to develop the Idaho
> Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) which is designed to determine whether a
> student is proficient in  the reading, language usage, and math standards
> prior to graduation.
> * Other components (not from NWEA) of the statewide assessment system
> include:
> * The Direct Math Assessment (DMA) to be given in grades 4, 6, and 8.
> * The Direct Writing Assessment (DWA) to be given in grades 5, 7, and
> 9.
> * The Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) to be given in grades K-3.
> * The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is to be
> given in grades 4 and 8.
>
> I hope this information is helpful.  I am the Curriculum Coordinator
> for the Moscow School District, and I am also a Commissioner for the State
> Board of Education's Assessment and Accountability Commission.  This is a
> very important topic, and I want to ask you to please feel free to contact
> me if you have any questions or concerns.
>
> Cindy Bechinski, Ph.D.
> Curriculum Coordinator
> Moscow School District # 281
> 650 N. Cleveland
> Moscow, ID  83843
> 208/892-1155
> bechinsc@sd281.k12.id.us
> fax: 208/883-4440
>
>