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: May 2005