In California, the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR)
program administers all standardized tests. Test results are
used for student achievement and school accountability purposes.
All students in grades two through eleven are required to
take the California Standards Tests (CSTs) or the California
Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA).
All students in grades three and seven are required to take
the California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition (CAT/6) Survey
for reading/language arts, mathematics and spelling. All students
taking grade four and seven tests must take the multiple-choice
and writing components for the ELA California Standards Tests
(CST). All Spanish-speaking ESL students enrolled in California
public schools less than 12 months must take the Spanish Assessment
of Basic Education, Second Edition (SABE/2) in addition to
taking the CSTs.
The primary purposes of the California High School Exit Examination
(CAHSEE) are to significantly improve pupil achievement in
public high schools and to ensure that pupils who graduate
from public high schools can demonstrate grade level competency
in reading, writing, and mathematics. The CAHSEE evaluates
English/language arts (ELA) and mathematics skills. The ELA
section addresses state content standards through grade ten.
The reading portion evaluates vocabulary, decoding, comprehension,
and analysis of information and literary texts. The writing
portion covers writing strategies, applications, and English
conventions such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The
mathematics section of the CAHSEE addresses state standards
in Algebra I and grades six and seven. The exam includes statistics,
data analysis and probability, number sense, measurement and
geometry, mathematical reasoning, and algebra. Students are
also asked to demonstrate a strong foundation in computation
and arithmetic, including working with decimals, fractions,
and percents.
Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, no student will receive
a public high school diploma without having passed the CAHSEE
as well as having met the district's requirements for graduation.
Merit’s Language Arts and math software programs correlate
to the California Content Standards and can help students
prepare for the State tests. The content and format of Merit’s
programs can help students develop and strengthen their test-taking
skills as well as their reading, writing and math skills.
Merit reading software has been proven -- through rigorous,
scientifically based research -- to increase both student
reading comprehension and standardized test scores. Merit
research study findings reveal that education software is
an effective tool to improve test scores and academic performance.
Published: January 2005
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