ALTERATION OF DATES FOR THE APRIL 2003 BENCHMARK EXAMS
The dates for the 2003 Benchmark Examination testing schedule have been slightly altered to respond to requests from school districts to the Arkansas Department of Education to study the feasibility of shortening the testing schedule. A three-day testing schedule has become possible for the Benchmark Examinations due to a slight modification of test design. The 2003 Benchmark Examinations will occur on Tuesday, April 8, through Thursday, April 10. This change also enables schools to avoid testing on the Monday following Daylight Savings Time. All of the End-of-Course Examinations for 2003 will occur on the dates previously announced.
TESTING DATES FOR THE 2003-2004 SCHOOL YEAR
In 2004, the Benchmark Examinations will be given the week of March 29-April 1, preceding the weekend when Daylight Savings Time begins. Testing will start on Tuesday, March 30, through Thursday, April 1.
FIELD TESTING FOR THE INITIAL POOL OF ITEMS IN READING, WRITING AND MATHEMATICS NEEDED TO CREATE THE BENCHMARK EXAMS FOR GRADES 3, 5, AND 7 WILL ALSO OCCUR DURING THE MARCH 29-APRIL 1, 2004, TESTING PERIOD. MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS REGARDING THE SPRING 2004 TESTING WILL BE PROVIDED AT A LATER DATE.
Under Federal Regulations an English Language Acquisition Assessment is required to access all LEP students on an annual basis, K-12. The ADE is in the process of establishing a contract. As soon as the contract process is final, dates for the English Language Acquisition Assessment will be announced. More specific details regarding this testing will be provided at a later date.
Testing dates for End of Course Exams follow the same schedule as before and are indicated with the other testing dates below.
January 27, 2004: Mid-Year End of Course Algebra Exam (Tuesday)
January 29, 2004: Mid-Year End of Course Geometry Exam (Thursday)
March 30-April 1, 2004: Primary Benchmark, Intermediate Benchmark, and Middle Level Benchmark Exams (Tuesday-Thursday)
March 31-April 1, 2004: End of Course Literacy Exam for Grade 11 (Wednesday and Thursday)
April 12-23, 2004: Stanford 9 Testing Window
April 27, 2004: End of Course Algebra Exam (Tuesday)
April 29, 2004: End of Course Geometry Exam (Thursday)
PLEASE ARRANGE YOUR 2003-2004 SCHOOL CALENDAR TO ACCOMMODATE THESE LEGALLY REQUIRED TESTING DATES. THERE WILL BE NO WAIVERS GRANTED FROM THESE DATES.