Accountability and Testing
Testing Terms and Information
TNREADY:
All students can and should participate in daily core instruction. The annual assessment is the measure of how students perform based on grade level content. How a student will access grade level content will differ based on individual student needs. All students are also assessed on their mastery of grade level standards.
All students participate in state assessments in one of three ways:
1. The general assessment (TNReady, TCAP Science and TCAP Social Studies): TCAP has been the state's testing program since 1988, and it includes TNReady, the state's assessments in math, English language arts, social studies, and science. As the state has transitioned to higher academic standards over the past several years, and will continue to do so, our tests have become better aligned to what educators are teaching. The assessments now include rigorous questions that measure students' writing, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. https://www.tn.gov/education/topic/tnready
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/tnready_parent_guide_2017-18.pdf
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/tnready_parent_guide_spanish.pdf
2. The general assessment with accommodations (TNReady, TCAP Science and TCAP Social Studies): The full range of accommodations will be available to make the test accessible for all students to participate. IEP teams will be provided guidance on how to select appropriate accommodations for this year. The accommodation options will be similar to last year. https://www.tn.gov/education/article/assessment-faq
http://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/3
TNREADY:
All students can and should participate in daily core instruction. The annual assessment is the measure of how students perform based on grade level content. How a student will access grade level content will differ based on individual student needs. All students are also assessed on their mastery of grade level standards.
All students participate in state assessments in one of three ways:
1. The general assessment (TNReady, TCAP Science and TCAP Social Studies): TCAP has been the state's testing program since 1988, and it includes TNReady, the state's assessments in math, English language arts, social studies, and science. As the state has transitioned to higher academic standards over the past several years, and will continue to do so, our tests have become better aligned to what educators are teaching. The assessments now include rigorous questions that measure students' writing, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. https://www.tn.gov/education/topic/tnready
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/tnready_parent_guide_2017-18.pdf
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/tnready_parent_guide_spanish.pdf
2. The general assessment with accommodations (TNReady, TCAP Science and TCAP Social Studies): The full range of accommodations will be available to make the test accessible for all students to participate. IEP teams will be provided guidance on how to select appropriate accommodations for this year. The accommodation options will be similar to last year. https://www.tn.gov/education/article/assessment-faq
http://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/3
tnready_parent_guide_accommodations_supplement.pdf
3. The alternate assessments (MSAA, TCAP Alternate Science and TCAP Alternate Social Studies): Alternate assessments are designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The structures of alternate assessments are designed around the students’ physical and cognitive disabilities in a way that allows them to answer test questions and participate in the test as independently as possible. The alternate assessments were designed by teachers and professions most familiar with students with significant cognitive disabilities. A variety of accommodations are built in the test design and designed to accommodate each student’s personal mode of communication. https://www.tn.gov/education/topic/alternate-assessment
TCAP EOC (End-Of-Course):
TCAP End of Course assessments are designed to assess true student understanding and not just basic memorization and test-taking skills. TCAP measures student understanding of out state standards. TCAP EOC assessments are given to hellp measure how much a student grows academically in a particular content area. The End-of-Course examinations will be given in English I, English II, English III, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Intergrated Math I, Intergrated math II, Intergrated Math II, U.S. History, Geography, Biology, and Chemistry. Further, the results of these examinations will be factored into the student’s grade at a percentage determined by the State Board of Education.
Students with disabilities must participate in the state End of Course (EOC) assessment. These students must receive appropriate support and accommodations with the goal of mastering course content and passing the EOC assessment. For more information about this assessment, go to: www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/HS_EOC_One_Pager.pdf
Parent Resources:
http://www.tn.gov/education/article/tnready-parent-resources
TEST ANXIETY
Students may experience anxiety about tests and may experience heightened anxiety before a testing situation. A certain degree of test anxiety is normal and may help students prepare more effectively, work more efficiently, and remain focused during testing. Too much anxiety, however, can negatively affect performance. The following strategies may assist students, parents, and teachers in reducing test anxiety.
Testing Day
· See that your child is rested and has breakfast.
· See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed.
· Encourage your child to do the best work possible.
· Do not send your child to school if illness is apparent.
· Do not remove your child from school on test days for appointments.
3. The alternate assessments (MSAA, TCAP Alternate Science and TCAP Alternate Social Studies): Alternate assessments are designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The structures of alternate assessments are designed around the students’ physical and cognitive disabilities in a way that allows them to answer test questions and participate in the test as independently as possible. The alternate assessments were designed by teachers and professions most familiar with students with significant cognitive disabilities. A variety of accommodations are built in the test design and designed to accommodate each student’s personal mode of communication. https://www.tn.gov/education/topic/alternate-assessment
TCAP EOC (End-Of-Course):
TCAP End of Course assessments are designed to assess true student understanding and not just basic memorization and test-taking skills. TCAP measures student understanding of out state standards. TCAP EOC assessments are given to hellp measure how much a student grows academically in a particular content area. The End-of-Course examinations will be given in English I, English II, English III, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Intergrated Math I, Intergrated math II, Intergrated Math II, U.S. History, Geography, Biology, and Chemistry. Further, the results of these examinations will be factored into the student’s grade at a percentage determined by the State Board of Education.
Students with disabilities must participate in the state End of Course (EOC) assessment. These students must receive appropriate support and accommodations with the goal of mastering course content and passing the EOC assessment. For more information about this assessment, go to: www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/HS_EOC_One_Pager.pdf
Parent Resources:
http://www.tn.gov/education/article/tnready-parent-resources
TEST ANXIETY
Students may experience anxiety about tests and may experience heightened anxiety before a testing situation. A certain degree of test anxiety is normal and may help students prepare more effectively, work more efficiently, and remain focused during testing. Too much anxiety, however, can negatively affect performance. The following strategies may assist students, parents, and teachers in reducing test anxiety.
Testing Day
· See that your child is rested and has breakfast.
· See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed.
· Encourage your child to do the best work possible.
· Do not send your child to school if illness is apparent.
· Do not remove your child from school on test days for appointments.
ACT/SAT
To receive a regular high school diploma, all students enrolled in a Tennessee public school during their eleventh (11th) grade year must take either the ACT or SAT.