State assessments to include grades 3-8
The New York State Education Department
began assessing math and English language (ELA) skills
for children in grades 3- 8 beginning in 2006.
Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act,
states are required to develop content standards for reading
and math for each grade, 3-8. States are also required to
develop tests to measure those contents standards.
In other words, each state must establish a
basic level of information that each student must learn in
reading and math in elementary and middle school years. The
states must also create test to determine if students are
learning that material.
Expanding math and ELA testing to grades
3-8 is sure to raise questions among parents and teachers. A
presentation made to administrators in October 2004 attempted
to answer many of those questions. (full
story)
For a parent's guide to the Gr 3-8 Testing
Program in English Language Arts and Mathematics,
click here.