Indiana currently uses criterion-referenced assessments,
such as the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress
(ISTEP+) and Core 40 end-of-course assessments, to evaluate
students’ academic progress toward mastery of appropriate
knowledge and skills. These assessment tools are aligned to
the Indiana Academic Standards. Instruction in Indiana classrooms
should be aligned with these same standards to help students
demonstrate mastery. Test results should reflect the level
of success achieved toward mastery of grade specific knowledge.
ISTEP+ utilizes two testing methods: one which tests basic
skills through multiple choice questions and one which tests
applied skills using short answer or essay questions and arithmetic
or mathematical problems. All questions are appropriate for
the designated grade level tested and should be aligned to
what is being taught in the classroom.
In 2004, for the first time, ISTEP+ was administered to students
in Grades 3 through 10 in English/language arts and mathematics.
ISTEP+ results for students in Grades 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10 (the
NEW Graduation Qualifying Exam {GQE}) will count for the first
time. Students in Grade 5 also took a science test. Aligned
to Indiana’s more rigorous academic standards, the new
GQE tests English skills through Grade 9 and mathematics skills
through Grade 8 and Algebra I.
The Core 40 end-of-course assessments test students’
knowledge and skills after taking specific Core 40 courses.
They are aligned with Indiana’s Academic Standards adopted
by the 2000-01 Indiana State Board of Education (State Board)
in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social
Studies.
As reflected in Indiana’s new school accountability
system, the State Board of Education has included selected
Core 40 end-of-course assessments as primary indicators of
high school improvement and performance as established by
Public Law 221-1999 (P.L. 221).
Required end-of-course assessments are tests that every school
will administer each year to every student enrolled in certain
Core 40 courses. These assessments will be required beginning
in 2004. The Core 40 end-of-course assessments are designed
to measure student achievement of Indiana’s Academic
Standards and schools’ alignment of curriculum choices
and instructional practices to the standards. Schools are
required to report end-of-course assessment data as well as
the percentage of students completing Core 40 and the Academic
Honors Diploma curricula on the Annual School Performance
Report. At least six Core 40 courses are being considered
as required assessments. Developing the capacity for statewide
administration and grading will take several years, with two
new end-of-course tests ready each spring for statewide piloting.
To simplify test administration, pilot testing will occur
only in the spring (April – June). These required end-of-course
assessments will be phased in over the next five years.
Merit’s Language Arts and math software programs correlate
to the Indiana Academic Standards and can help students prepare
for the ISTEP+ and Core 40 end-of-course assessments. 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 |
