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Community
Unit School District 200
Summary of Assessments in Current Use
| Test
Name |
Type/Purpose |
Grades
Administered |
Comments |
| Illinois
Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) |
State
assessment introduced in 1999 in reading, math and writing.
|
3,
5, 8, & 10 |
These
tests replace the Illinois Goal Assessment first administered
in 1988. Test questions are based on the Illinois Learning
Standards. All students, except those with IEP's and ESL
direct services for less than three years, take these
tests. |
| State
assessment in science, social science, fine arts and physical
education beginning in 2000. |
4,
7, & 11 |
| Prairie
State Achievement Exam (PSAE) |
Tests
mastery in reading, math, writing, science and social
science. |
11 |
The
PSAE was implemented in 2001. All students, except those
with IEP's and ESL direct services for less than three
years, take these tests. |
| Illinois
Measure of Annual Growth in English (IMAGE) |
Tests
students' mastery of English language skills. |
K-12
|
This
test is only given to students who have participated in
limited English proficiency classes for three years or
less. |
| In
View Cognitive Abilities Test |
Compares
reasoning skills of District 200 students against a national
norm. |
2,
5 & 7 |
This test is administered with the TerraNova. All students,
except those with IEP's and ESL students, take these tests.
|
| American
College Test (ACT) |
College
entrance/predicts success in college. |
11
& 12 |
Used
primarily for entrance to midwest colleges and universities.
This is a voluntary test. |
| Scholastic
Aptitude Test (SAT) |
College
entrance/predicts success in college. |
11
& 12 |
This
is a voluntary test used primarily for entrance to east
and west coast colleges and universities. |
| PSAT/NMSQT
|
Preparation for SAT and scholarship eligibility. |
11
|
This is a voluntary test not used for college admission.
|
| PLAN
|
Preparation
for ACT. |
10
|
This
is a voluntary test that includes a career interest inventory.
|
| Advanced
Placement Tests (AP) |
Tests
to earn college credit for taking high school courses.
|
12
|
AP
courses are offered in calculus, physics, history, and
English. Tests available in many academic areas and foreign
language. These tests are voluntary. |
|
State
Assessments
The first state assessments for Illinois school children began in
1988 with the Illinois Goals Assessment Program (IGAP). In 1999,
the state introduced the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT).
These tests assess students' skills and knowledge in reading, math,
writing, science and social science. Students whose primary language
is not English, and have participated in Limited English Proficiency
classes for three years or less, take the Illinois Measure of Annual
Growth in English (IMAGE). All high school juniors are required
to take the two-day Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE). The first
day, students take the ACT, which includes English, math, reading,
and science reasoning tests. The second day evaluates student progress
toward meeting the Illinois Learning Standards. Results of PSAE
will be included on all student transcripts, and students may receive
recognition as a Prairie State Scholar for high achievement on any
one of the five tests.
Nationally
Normed Assessments
Two national norm-referenced tests are given in District 200. One
is theTerraNova, the Second Edition, which is an achievement test
that assesses a student's skills and knowledge in reading, language
arts, mathematics, social studies and science. The In View Cognitive
Abilities Test compares the reasoning skills of District 200 students
against students nationally.
College
Entrance Exams
The American College Testing Program (ACT) and the Scholastic Aptitude
Test (SAT) are college entrance examinations taken by high school
juniors and seniors. ACT and SAT scores are one of several criterion
used by colleges and universities to make admission decisions. The
College Board also offers the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall to help interested
juniors prepare for college entrance exams in the spring. The PSAT
also gives students the opportunity to qualify for scholarships
and recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Sophomores
may take the ACT's PLAN test to obtain a predicted score on the
ACT. PLAN also includes an occupational interest survey.
Advanced
Placement (AP)
Students may enroll in advanced placement courses and earn college
credit if they score well on a culminating AP test. High School
Advanced Placement courses are offered in calculus, history, physics,
and English.
How
to Access the School Report Card
The State of Illinois requires each school in the state to distribute
a report card to the parents of children enrolled in that school
by October 31 of each year. The report cards are prepared by the
state and include the scores the school and District earned on the
Illinois Goal Assessment Program (ISAT) tests. The report cards
and ISAT results can be accessed on the Illinois State Board of
Education's web site at www.isbe.state.il.us.
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