The Primary Benchmark Exam (Grade 4) and the Middle Level Benchmark Exam (Grade 8) will be given April 24-27, 2000, with makeup testing permitted until May 2, 2000. The field test of items for the Intermediate Benchmark Exam (Grade 6) will occur on April 26, 2000. The field test of items for the End of Course Literacy Exam (Grade 11) also will occur on April 26, 2000. Upon the advice of the Planning Advisory Committee, the criterion-referenced examinations which involve entire grade cohorts have been grouped in the same week.
Please note the changes with the Literacy Exam: Literacy Exam will test students in Grade 11, and it has been moved to the Spring. This change is the result of suggestions from the field regarding the need for sufficient time to remediate students who do not demonstrate proficiency on the Literacy Exam.
All school districts shall participate in field testing. Field testing of items usually does not exceed 90 minutes.
The criterion-referenced exams which might cut across more than one grade level will be given in the first week of May, following the advice of the Planning Advisory Committee. The field tests of items for the End of Course Algebra and for the End of Course Geometry Exams will occur on May 3, 2000.
For all future planning purposes, school districts should plan for the Benchmark Exams and the End of Course Literacy Exam to occur in the last week in April and for all other End of Course Exams to occur in the first week in May.
Training for Testing Coordinators regarding the criterion referenced testing program will be provided during the next school year. As soon as training dates are set, you will be informed. Also an exact testing schedule will be provided, similar to the one you received last year. As always, the testing schedule must be followed for security purposes and to insure standardization of testing conditions.
An assessment time line is attached to this memorandum. It is intended to show the phase in schedule of the various criterion-referenced tests. If you have questions about the time line or about this memorandum, please contact Dr. Gayle Potter at (501) 682-4558.