Conway Public Schools

Assessment

Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment, and Accountability Program

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act calls for all students to meet the proficient level of performance in literacy and mathematics by the end of the 2013-2014 school year. In the intervening years, schools must make adequate yearly progress (AYP) towards meeting that goal. In Arkansas, schools must make AYP on the state's Benchmark and End-of-Course Exams each year. The Benchmark exams are administered to students in Grades 3-8, while the End-of-Course Exams are administered for Algebra I and Geometry. A Literacy Exam is administered to students in Grade 11. Arkansas' annual AYP goals are determined by the Arkansas Department of Education and are part of the state's plan, which has been approved by the U. S. Department of Education.

The federal law mandates that schools have to successfully meet AYP in categories, or subgroups. These subgroups include: all students, which is referred to as the combined population; Caucasian students; African-American students; Hispanic students; students who are limited English proficient; economically disadvantaged students; and students with disabilities. In order to hold a school accountable for a subgroup, the designated group must have more than 40 students.

As part of Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment, and Accountability Program (ACTAAP), students in Conway Public Schools participate in the Benchmark Examinations, Algebra I End of Course Exam, Geometry End of Course Exam, Biology End of Course Exam, and Literacy 11 Exam.

ACTAAP High Stakes Assessments

According to Act 1307 implemented in 2009, all Arkansas schools are mandated to administer high-stakes end of course assessments in Algebra I and English II.

Beginning with the school year 2009-2010 all students in grade 9 or below who are enrolled in Algebra I must pass the Algebra I End of Course Examination in order to receive an academic credit toward graduation. Any student identified as not passing an initial high-stakes assessment shall be remediated through an individualized academic improvement plan (IAIP) and will have two additional opportunities to pass the assessment. The school is responsible for ensuring that any student who does not pass the End of Course Examination receives academic support and remediation outlined in the student's IAIP. If a student does not pass the Algebra I End of Course Examination after being given multiple opportunities to pass the assessment, the student must successfully complete a separate program as determined by the ADE in order to receive and academic credit toward graduation.

Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, students who are enrolled in English II must pass the End of Course Examination for English II in order to receive an academic credit toward graduation. Any student identified as not passing an initial high-stakes assessment shall be remediated through an individualized academic improvement plan (IAIP) and will have two additional opportunities to pass the assessment. The school is responsible for ensuring that any student who does not pass the End of Course Examination receives academic support and remediation outlined in the student's IAIP.

See the Arkansas State Department of Education website for more information.

ACTAAP Testing Dates for 2011-2012

• September 6 – September 23, 2011 – Window for Kindergarten Screener (QUALLS)
• September 14-15, 2011 – Algebra I Retest Opportunity (Wednesday-Thursday)
• September 27-28, 2011 – EXPLORE for Grade 8
• October 4, 2011 – Grades 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 Writing Field Test (Tuesday)
• October 12, 2011 – PSAT for Grade 10 (Wednesday)
• October 24 – November 11, 2011 – Algebra I Strand Analysis Remediation
• November 14-18, 2011 – Online Alternative Test for Algebra I
• January 17-18, 2012 – Mid-Year End of Course Algebra I Exam (and Algebra I Retest Opportunity) (Tuesday-Wednesday)
• January 19-20, 2012 – Mid-Year End of Course Geometry Exam (Thursday-Friday)
• January 24-25, 2012 – Mid-Year End of Course Biology Exam (Tuesday-Wednesday)
• March 5 – March 30, 2012 – Algebra I Strand Analysis Remediation
• March 6-7, 2012 – Grade 11 Literacy Exam (Tuesday-Wednesday)
• March 16, 2012 – Alternate Portfolio due (Friday)
• March 26 – May 4, 2012 – English Language Development Assessment for limited English proficient students, K-12
• April 2-6, 2012 – Online Alternative Test for Algebra I
• April 3-5, 2012 – Grades 1, 2, and 9 Iowa Tests (NRT)
• April 9-13, 2012 – Augmented Benchmark Exams in Grades 3-8 (Monday-Friday)
• April 17-18, 2012 – End of Course Geometry Exam (Tuesday-Wednesday)
• April 24-25, 2012 – End of Course Biology Exam (Tuesday-Wednesday)
• May 8-9, 2012 – End of Course Algebra I Exam (and Algebra I Retest Opportunity) (Tuesday-Wednesday)
• May 7-17, 2012 – AP Exams
• May 23-25, 2012 – Make Up AP Exams

ACTAAP Released Item Booklets

The Released Item Booklets below contain test questions or items that were asked of students during the April 2011 operational administration of the Augmented Benchmark Exams. The test items included in Part II of this booklet are some of the items that contributed to the student performance results for that administration.

• Grade 3, Augmented Benchmark Exams - PDF June 6, 2011
• Grade 4, Augmented Benchmark Exams - PDF June 13, 2011
• Grade 5, Augmented Benchmark Exams - PDF May 25, 2011
• Grade 6, Augmented Benchmark Exams - PDF May 26, 2011
• Grade 7, Augmented Benchmark Exams - PDF May 27, 2011
• Grade 8, Augmented Benchmark Exams - PDF May 26, 2011

The Learning Institute Interim Assessments

Conway Public Schools uses The Learning Institute (TLI) Interim Asssessments (also referred to as module tests or chunk tests) to periodically assess student growth and learning and help prepare students for state assessments. The district sets its own pacing and testing dates. TLI assessments are given in grades 1 through high school in math, including 7th grade PreAP, MS Algebra I, HS Algebra I, Geometry A and B, Geometry, and Algebra II. Writing assessments are given in grades 1 through 11. Reading assessments are given in grades 2 through 11. Science assessments are given in grade 5.

Click here to download the TLI Assessment Schedule for 2011-2012.

PARCC Assessments

To assess the Common Core State Standards, Arkansas joined with twenty-four other states to create the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). Arkansas serves on the Governing Board of the partnership.

PARCC's goal is to create an assessment system, in addition to resources and tools of support, that will assist in increasing the number of students who graduate from high school ready for college or a career.

Full implementation of the PARCC Assessments will be 2014-2015.

Links

• Common Core State Standards Initiative
• Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers
• Arkansas Department of Education
• Arkansas Common Core State Standards Initiative
• Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative
• The Learning Institute