This spring, your child will take State Summative tests in math and English language arts. Fifth and eighth graders will also take the new, online Montana Science Assessment. The results of these tests give an accurate picture of whether students are on track to be ready for college or other careers.
Testing sessions will be scheduled on the following days:
Science- 5th/8th Grade 3/16-3/20
Math- 5th/6th Grades 4/28-5/1, 7th/8th Grades 5/4-5/7, 3rd/4th Grades 4/13-4/16
ELA- 5th/6th Grades 3/31-4/2, 7th/8th Grades 4/6-4/9, 3rd/4th Grades 4/20-4/23
If you have questions about the time of your child’s test, please contact their homeroom teacher.
Please make sure your child has working headphones or earbuds for the test. Earbuds are available at the office for $1.00.
For more information about the summative tests, visit http://www.smarterbalanced.org/parents/
To try out an online practice test, visit http://www.smarterbalanced.org/assessments/practice-and-training-tests/
Please call or email Tonya Jewett at tjewett@westvalleyschool.com if you have questions about state testing. Thank you for continuing to work with us to make sure your child is successful. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your child. We want your child to leave us with a solid foundation of skills and a future full of opportunities.
Note: Both ESSA and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) require that all students participate in statewide assessments. This includes all students who receive special education services no matter what their disability or level of service. All students, including students with IEPs, identified at the time of statewide testing as Limited English Proficient (LEP) must be accounted for when the assessment results are reported to the US Department of Education.
The Montana Comprehensive Assessment System (MontCAS) is designed to ensure that all students participate and are included to the fullest extent possible, while reducing variation in achievement reporting. School personnel must follow both federal and state policies regarding student population that outline the following:
All students enrolled in Grades 3-8 are required to participate in the Smarter Balanced mathematics and English language arts (ELA) assessments except the following: Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who meet the criteria for the Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA), which is approximately one percent or fewer of the entire student population.
English Learners must be evaluated using the ACCESS for ELLs screener to determine their participation in the required state English language proficiency assessment consistent with state and federal policy. If the student has been enrolled in a US School for less than twelve months, they have a one-time exemption from taking the required state ELA assessment