1

A

Parent’sGuide to the

South Carolina Elementary State Assessment System

for

2014-15

Orange Grove Charter School

John H. Clendaniel, Principal

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What Tests Will My Child Take?

Students in Grades 3-5will take the ACT Aspire Assessment in Spring 2015 as part of the new South Carolina Assessment System.

Students in Grades 4-5 will also take the traditional SC PASS Assessments for Scienceand Social Studies.

SC

PASS

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What Does ACT Aspire Do?

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Measures student growth towards college and career readiness in Grades 3-10; SC will be using Grades 3-8 tests.

Identifies early learning gaps to help ALL students graduate from high school ready for college and careeropportunities.

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What Subjects and Grades Are Assessed?

ACT Aspire Testing | Grades 3-5

Writing English Reading Math Science

Social Studies Science

SC PASS Science and Social Studies Testing | Grades 4-5

SC

PASS

SC

PASS

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How Many Questions Are On the Tests?

Depending on the grade level and subject area, most assessments have between 30-60 items.

All grade levels are required to write an essay or story.

Science

andSC

PASS

Social Studies

SC

PASS

SC

PASS

WritingEnglish Reading Math

Writing

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What Types of Writing Are Required?

Grade 3 | Reflective Narrative (tell a story)

Example: Write a story about a time you did something new and different .

Grade 4 | Analytical Expository (explain something)

Example: Write and essay to explain the qualities of a good friend.

Grade 5 | Persuasive Argumentative (support an opinion)

Example: Your principal wants to invite a special guest to speak about the value of hard work and is trying to decide between a scientist or and athlete. Write an essay to support which speaker you think would be best and why. Give details and examples to support your answer.

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How Long Are the ACT Aspire Tests?

Note: Administration times begin after students have completed pre-test gridding and verbal instructions have been given.

If two or more tests will be administered in a single sitting, students will be given 5-10 minutes between each test to collect completed materials and go over verbal instructions for the next test.

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Day Subject Test Length

Day 1Writing 30 minutes

English 30 minutes

Day 2 Reading 60 minutes

Day 3 Mathematics 55 minutes

Day 4 Science 55 minutes

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What Is the Total Time of Testing?

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ACT Aspire Testing

Grades 3, 4, and 5 3 hours, 50 minutes

Grades 6 and 7 4 hours

Grade 8 4 hours, 5 minutes

SC PASS Science and Social Studies Testing

Grades 4 and 5 These tests are not timed

Grades 6, 7, and 8 These tests are not timed

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What Will the Questions Look Like?

Constructed-Response Tasks

or Selected-Response Tasks

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Who Takes PASS Science/Social Studies?

4th and 5th Grade Students Take PASS SCI and SS Based on SC Science & Social Studies content standards

These tests are not timed

All questions are in multiple choice format

Administered to ALL 4th and 5th Grade students

Each test has 45 to 50 questions

Administered after ACT Aspire (May 7 and 8)

What About 3rd Grade Students? 3rd Grade students do not take SC PASS

for Science and Social Studies in Spring 2015.

SC

PASS

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When Will Students Be Tested?

Spring 2015 ACT Aspire Testing Window

Writing and English April 28 (Tuesday)

Reading April 29 (Wednesday)

Mathematics April 30 (Thursday)

Science May 1 (Friday)

Make-Up Testing May 4-8 and May 11-13

Spring 2015 4th and 5th Grade SC PASS Testing Window

Science May 7 (Thursday)

Social Studies May 8 (Friday)

Make-Up Testing May 11-15

SC

PASS

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Can I See ACT Aspire Sample Test Items?

http://actaspire.pearson.com/exemplars.html

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Can I See SC PASS Sample Test Items?

Science

http://ed.sc.gov/agency/programs-services/45/PASSScienceTests.cfm

Social Studies

http://ed.sc.gov/agency/programs-services/45/PASSSocialStudiesTests.cfm

SC

PASS

SC

PASS

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Are There Testing Accommodations?

http://actaspire.avocet.pearson.com/actaspire/home#4673

Students With Disabilities ACT Aspire has accommodations for students

with Individual Educational Plans (IEPs).

English Language Learning (ELL) Students The “First Year Exemption” for ELL students

applies to both SC PASS and ACT Aspire.

Where Can You Find More Information? Parents will receive specific information about testing

accommodations from the school, and can also use the ACT Aspire Accessibility Guidebook on the ACT website:

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How Will the State Rate Our School?

State Testing Accountability for 2014-15:

Parents and schools will receive assessment results for each student, but scores will not be calculated into ratings for schools and districts until 2016-17.

The state will then combine the current state and federal accountability systems into one effective South Carolina accountability system.

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What Can Parents Do?

The Night Before the Testing:

Talk to your child about any concerns they may have.

Your family should relax and enjoy the evening.

Your child needs to go to bed on-time.

Your child should not go to bed upset or angry.

Your child should get a full night’s sleep

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What Can Parents Do?

The Morning of the Test: Start your day as you normally do.

Your child should eat a healthy breakfast.

Allow your child to wear their favorite comfortable clothing.

Encourage your child to have a positive attitude and do his/her best on the test.

Be sure your child is at school and on-timeevery day during testing.

If your child wears glasses, please make sure that he/she has them for testing.

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Questions and Answers