Friday, November 3, 2017

Choosing a High School Academic Assessment


The 2017-2018 school year has brought forth many changes in the world of standardized testing at the high school level.  The junior class will no longer take the state assessment, that test has been moved to the sophomore class.  The biggest change, however, comes with the fact that local school districts now have the power to choose which test to administer.  The language from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (ND DPI) is as follows:

“The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015) provides new flexibility for states with respect to high school assessments.  Section 1111(b)(2)(H) of ESSA allows a Local Education Agency (LEA) to administer a locally selected, nationally recognized assessment in lieu of the state test for high school if the LEA selects an assessment that has been approved by the state”

The ND DPI has approved the following assessments to measure academic progress, the North Dakota State Assessment which is given to sophomores, and the ACT which is already given to all juniors in the state of North Dakota.

On the recommendation from the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders (NDCEL) New Salem-Almont Public Schools has chosen to use the North Dakota State Assessment.  The recommendation from NDCEL was based on the following factors:

·      The inability of ACT to measure growth
·      It has never been used to measure accountability
·      Restricted accommodations; determined by ACT, not locally
·      Measures college entrance; not Choice Ready
·      Changes focus from student centered to measurement of school quality
·      Three year commitment does not allow for changing mind

This means students at New Salem-Almont High will be given the following assessments in respective grades.

            7th Grade – STAR, MAP, NDSA
            8th Grade – STAR, MAP, NDSA
            9th Grade – no standardized assessment
            10th Grade – NDSA, PSAT
            11th Grade – ACT
            12th Grade – no standardized assessment

Please feel free to contact the school office with any questions, 843-7610.