The 5 Ws of Testing 2016-2017

What tests will be given this year? Fountas & Pinnell STAR (Standardized Testing And Reporting) GKIDS (Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills) Iowa Assessment Milestones ACCESS Testing

Fountas & Pinnell Who: All students in grades K-5 What: F&P is an assessment that measures your child’s fluency, accuracy, and comprehension. Where: In their classrooms by their teachers When: Administered 3 times per year: Fall, Winter, Spring Why: This assessment helps to determine your child’s independent and instructional level of reading. It provides teachers information about what level your child is on and what skills need to be further developed.

STAR Who: All students in grades K-5 What: STAR testing assesses students in both reading and math. It is a quick snapshot of where students are performing on grade level standards. In Kindergarten, students are administered STAR Early Literacy. Where: Administered by their teachers in the computer lab or in their classrooms. When: Administered 3 times per year: Fall, Winter, Spring Why: The STAR assessment provides teachers information about individual students, their class, and the overall grade level. It helps teachers plan both small group and whole group instruction based on the needs of their students.

GKIDS -Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills Who: All students in Kindergarten What: GKIDS is a year-long performance-based assessment that is aligned to the current standards. Where: Activities completed in the classroom. When: Ongoing Why: This assessment provides teachers and parents with ongoing information about the level of instructional support needed by students. This assessment also provides information about the readiness of students for 1st grade at the end of the school year.

Iowa Assessment Who: 3rd and 5th grade students What: The IOWA is a norm-referenced test. This means that the scores are used to compare our students’ performance with students throughout the nation in the same grade and who took the test at the same point in the school year. Where: Online in the classroom or computer labs. When: October 17th -November 4th Why: Teachers and schools use the results to make instructional decisions. These scores can also be used as one criterion to determine placement for the Talented and Gifted program. Iowa testing also helps inform middle school placements.

Sections of Iowa Assessment Reading and Vocabulary ELA – Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Writing Math and Computation Science and social Studies

Scoring of Norm-Referenced Tests Test results should be expected in November.

Milestones Who: All students in grades 3-5 What: The GA Milestones is a criterion referenced assessment that determines how well students have mastered the skills and content of the curriculum in specific content areas. Where: Online in computer labs or in classrooms. When: April 17-May 5, 2017 Why: This assessment provides teachers and parents with information about a child’s readiness for the next grade level.

Changes to GA Milestones The state of Georgia has modified the sections of the Milestones to be administered at each grade level. 2016-2017: 3rd Grade: English Language Arts and Mathematics *Students will be considered for retention if they do not pass the reading portion of the exam 4th Grade: English Language Arts and Mathematics 5th Grade: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies *Students will be considered for retention if they do not pass the reading and/or mathematics portion of the exam

ACCESS Testing Who: All ELL students in grades K-5 What: The ACCESS testing is administered to determine the rate of progress that students have made as well as assess their overall English proficiency. Where: Administered at Creek View by the ESOL teachers (Ms. Hagan and Ms. McLaughlin) When: Ongoing between January and March Why: This assessment helps to determine placement and eligibility for the ELL program for the following school year.

Grade Report