Testing and Evaluation
Testing Coordinator:
Dr. Joe Parker, 717-5455
The county administers assessments for a variety of evaluations of students. Students in grades 3-8 are administered the state Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests in the spring to comply with state and federal mandates. This consists of the Writing Assessment, given in February to students in grades 5, 8, and 11, as well as the large-scale administration of the TCAP in late March in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Students in the elementary grades are administered the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) to assess their progress in reading.
The district also participates in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) testing program administered through the state department of education. Selected students in selected schools are assessed, usually early in the year, January or February, as part of this national assessment.
Students in secondary schools are administered Gateway/End of Course examinations. For those students entering ninth grade before the 2009-2010 year, three Gateway assessments are required for graduation: Science (Biology I), Language Arts, (English II), and Mathematics (Algebra I)
Beginning in 2009-2010, secondary students will be administered End of Course examinations for selected courses in keeping with state mandates. Those assessments are in Language Arts (English I and II), Mathematics (Algebra I), Science (Biology), and History (U.S. History). Because of a change in state law, these assessments are not required for graduation, but a student taking these assessments must pass the course in which they are given. Future End of Course assessments in development are in Mathematics (Geometry and Algebra II) and Science (Chemistry). They are to be piloted in the future.
Per state law, students in the 8th, 10, and 11th grades also take the assessment series provided by the American College Testing (ACT) program. These tests are achievement tests of acquired or developed skills. The Explore test, administered in the eighth grade allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of English, pre-algebra, science, and reading as well as begin looking at the world of work and what vocations might interest them. The PLAN test, administered in the tenth grade, also consists of an assessment of basic skills with an emphasis on English, algebra and geometry, life/physical science, and reading. The PLAN test continues the examination of the working world with questions designed to elicit information about a student’s interests and future plans. The ACT test, given in the 11th grade, focuses on those skills that demonstrate preparedness for college work. More information about all three assessments may be found at http://www.act.org/ew/resources.
Additional information concerning these assessments and most recent scores for Roane County's students can also be found on the State of Tennessee's web site for testing and evaluation: http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment.