Regular testing is an integral part of Alpha students' educational journey. These tests ensure students are placed at the right academic level and improve their test-taking abilities. Here's a breakdown of the various tests and their specific purposes.
1. NWEA MAP:
- Frequency: Thrice a year.
- Subjects: Reading, Math, Language, and Science.
- Output: RIT Score (Range: 100-350).
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Use-cases:
- Determining the best apps/levels suitable for the student.
- Tracking academic progress over time.
2. Standardized Tests:
- Frequency: According to the natural course progression, although sometimes taken ad hoc based on specific needs.
- Output: Percentage mastery of a specific grade level (e.g., 80% mastery of 4th-grade content).
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Use-cases:
- Identifying students' mastery over specific grade levels.
- Fine-tuning app recommendations (e.g., suggesting 5th-grade content over 4th grade).
- Some of the types of tests that can be found here are:
- STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness): Standardized tests used in Texas public schools to assess student achievements and readiness for the next grade level.
- SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium): Standardized testing consortium used by several states in the US. It focuses on assessing students in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA) from grades 3 through 8 and grade 11.
3. IXL Diagnostics:
- Frequency: Currently not in use, save for specific cases.
- Subjects: Math and Language only.
- Output: A diagnostic score (e.g., an 840 score suggests the student has achieved 40% of 8th-grade content).
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Use-cases:
- When requested ad-hoc by our team's experts in academics.
- Helping profile a prospective student.
- Note: This has been used to provide recommendations on Dash, which is now mostly deprecated.
4. MindPrint
- Frequency: Twice a year - at the beginning and end of each school year.
- Output: General academic, cognitive, and social-emotional learning (SEL) data
- Note: Students must be in Grade 3 or above and 8 years or older.
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Use cases:
- Effectively catering to the diverse needs of all students.
- Allowing school leaders to foster growth across grades and subject areas by addressing challenges adeptly.
4. MindPrint
- Frequency: Twice a year - at the beginning and end of each school year.
- Output: General academic, cognitive, and social-emotional learning (SEL) data
- Note: Students must be in Grade 3 or above and 8 years or older.
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Use cases:
- Effectively catering to the diverse needs of all students.
- Allowing school leaders to foster growth across grades and subject areas by addressing challenges adeptly.
5. Check-Charts based tests or activities
- Frequency: Occasional, based on specific needs or circumstances.
- Format: Depends on the activity. They can be paper-based or digital platforms other than the ones previously listed.
- Purpose: Tracking students' progress in different skills, not necessarily related to Academic subjects.
- Output: Varied, depending on the specific test or platform used.
- Use case: Results are integrated into the student's overall academic profile.
6. Others
- Students will need to take other tests during their learning journey as dictated by the US educational standards. In most cases, this is not exclusive to Alpha. Some of the most notable ones are:
- AP (Advanced Placement): Program created by the College Board that offers college-level courses and exams to High School students. Students who score well on AP exams can often earn college credit or advanced placement in college courses (skipping the content they already mastered).
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CBE (Credit by Exam): A process where students can earn credit for a course by passing an examination; CBEs are not state-developed tests, but they're regulated by the Texas Education Code (TEC). It allows students to demonstrate mastery of the content without taking the course in the traditional sense. It can serve as a good track record for High School students, but it's not mandatory (depends on the College).
- SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test): The SAT is a standardized test widely used (although not mandatory for all Colleges) for College admissions in the US. It assesses students' readiness for college and provides Colleges with a common data point that can be used to compare all applicants, so High School students are usually very interested in getting high scores.
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TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): These are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do. TEKS cover all subjects at every grade level and are designed to ensure students are prepared for the next grade, college, and career. They outline the specific content areas and skills that need to be taught and learned in Texas public schools.
Priyanka Bhotika
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