Standardized testing is important. Along with grades, classwork, participation, and homework, testing helps teachers and parents understand our children’s progress and the best ways to reinforce or extend their learning.
Typically, each year in the spring, students in grades 3-8 take the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) statewide assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics. Additionally, the California Science Test (CAST) is typically administered for 5th and 8th grade, and the California Alternative Assessment (CAA) is typically administered for our special needs students.
Due to the pandemic, this year is different.
Focusing on instruction and the social-emotional needs of our students is a priority at this time. As a district, we want to provide student progress monitoring without the added challenge of students and staff learning a new testing platform for students and staff with so few weeks left in the school year.
As a result of the pandemic, MVWSD now has the flexibility to choose the most viable testing option for our students. As a result, we will be administering only i-Ready tests in math and language arts for students in grades 3-8.
Recently, the California State Board of Education requested the U.S. Department of Education give relief from certain federal testing, accountability, and reporting requirements for the Spring CAASPP assessments for the 2020-21 school year. The U.S. Department of Education has recently approved flexibility for California’s testing, which allows school districts to choose the most viable testing option for their students.
The State Board of Education has emphasized that student progress should be monitored in the core content areas of English Language Arts and math. We will be using our i-Ready diagnostic assessment for Reading and math to monitor and report student progress instead of the CAASPP English Language Arts and mathematics tests. I-Ready diagnostics are aligned to the California Common Core State Standards.
i-Ready tests will be given in May, with results available to parents on June 4th. Your principal will communicate your school’s specific schedules for i-Ready test administration.
The i-Ready diagnostic assessments will be administered in May. Testing will be done in-person or remotely depending on whether your child is in in-person/ Blended learning or in distance learning/ Connected. Students have worked very hard this year under challenging circumstances. Through assessments, they will have a chance to show what they know and can do. The end-of-year tests will give you, your child, and your child’s teacher(s) important information about this year’s learning. The i-Ready test results will be accessible on Powerschool Parent Portal by the end of day June 4th. Your principal will be communicating the site specific i-Ready testing schedule.
Thank you for your support of our students, staff members and schools.