Dear Families,

 

As you may already know, our school uses STAR and iReady Assessments to help teachers understand what students need to know and what they are ready to learn next. Typically, these assessments are given throughout the school year to monitor student progress and are administered in the school setting. Part of our normal testing plan includes a fall baseline assessment. After careful consideration, we have decided to move forward with this plan but will be proctoring the assessment remotely.  If your child is an ESE student, their ESE teacher will contact you to explain their allowable accommodations for these assessments.

 

Many of our students are likely familiar with this test, but helping students feel comfortable with a remote testing process is still very important. By adhering to the following testing recommendations, you are helping teachers gather important data that enables them to create more meaningful learning opportunities for your child based on their strengths.

 

Tips for families to prepare for a positive testing experience

·         Preparation – Ensure your child is well rested and has a good breakfast.

·         Environment – Provide a quiet environment at a table or desk that is free from distractions. Students taking math assessments will need paper and pencil but may not use a calculator. Students taking reading assessments may require headphones.

·         Support – Students should complete the test independently. The purpose for these baseline assessments is to help teachers understand what your child knows. The information provided by these assessments helps us determine how to best support your child. Inaccurate assessment results could cause your child not to receive the support he/she needs to be successful. It is not used for a grade. If your child gets stuck or asks for help, simply encourage them to choose the best answer and move on to the next question.

·         Monitor – Stay nearby where your child is testing to ensure they remain focused but avoid hovering and distracting.

 

Thank you for partnering with us through the assessment process. We appreciate your support. Please contact your child’s teacher should you have any further questions.