Students Face State Testing at all Grade Levels

Children in grades 3-8 are required to take state tests/assessments each school year  in math and English language arts. Other exams are administered each year in science and social studies.

Testing in English language arts — covering reading, writing and listening skills — and math for each of the elementary grades is designed to show whether children have a firm grasp on the skills they will need to succeed as they move toward middle school, high school and beyond. These tests also help teachers identify where the curriculum might need to be fine-tuned to better meet students’ needs.

Testing children regularly throughout the middle school years is one way of ensuring that they are progressing academically. Such tests help show whether children need additional help to confidently move ahead in school.

Testing children beginning in the third grade is one way of ensuring that students are learning their daily lessons well. These tests, as well as the middle school exams, are carefully designed to reflect the types of information and skills that children are expected to learn at their grade levels.

Although students will be given opportunities throughout the school year to become familiar with the format of these tests, the school year will not be spent drilling for these exams. Instead, the primary focus is on expanding children’s knowledge in many subject areas and disciplines like listening, reading, writing and math — encouraging them to reason better and become critical thinkers.

Upcoming testing during 2011-2012 school year

April 17-18: Grade 3-8 ELA testing

April 18-May 18: NYSESLAT speaking testing

April 19-20: Grade 3-8 ELA makeup testing

April 23-24-: Grade 3-8 Math testing

April 25-26: Grade 3-8 Math makeup testing

May 7-18: NYSESLAT Listening, Reading, Writing testing

May 16-24: NYSESLAT achievement testing

May 23-24: Grade 4 Science manipulative testing (Veeder Only)

May 25: Grade 4 Science manipulative testing (Shaker Road Only)

May 30: Grade 8 Science performance test

May 30: Grade 4 Science manipulative testing (Forest Park and Roessleville Only)

May 31: Grade 4 Science manipulative testing (Saddlewood Only)

June 4: Grade 4 and 8 written Science testing

June 5-6: Grade 4 and 8 written Science makeup testing

New York State Testing Link

For more information on New York State Testing please click on the New York State Education Department web site at www.nysed.gov