TCAP TEST INFORMATION

April 2-11, 2003 students in Grade s 2-8 in all Union County Schools take an achievement test as part of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). The Achievement Test has fresh and non-redundant test items each year. Test items are customized yearly to measure the academic basic skills in reading, vocabulary, language, language mechanics, mathematics, mathematics computation, science, social studies, spelling and word analysis. Content knowledge, as well as the application of that knowledge, in these subject areas is assessed . The TCAP Achievement Test uses multiple choice questions and has set time limits. There is no passing or failing Grade on the test.

The TCAP Achievement Test, published by CTB/McGraw-Hill, provides both norm-referenced and performance information by objective. Norm-referenced information permits the achievement of students to be compared with the performance of a national sample of students. The 2002 Statewide Results broken down by subgroups presents results expressed as median national percentiles. This same information is provided for each school system. Median national percentile performance data are provided for Reading Composite, Language Composite, Math Composite, Science and Social Studies. The results indicate that Tennessee students scored at or above the 50th national percentile on eighty three percent (83%) of the reported scores.

Information by objective allows the comparison of student achievement against a specified level of performance in that subject. The TCAP Achievement Test also reports information in terms of five performance levels that describes a Pathway to Proficiency. The defined levels are Step 1, Progressing, Nearing Proficiency, Proficient, and Advanced. These five levels of performance are appropriate for Grade span three through five and Grade spans six through eight rather than individual Grade levels. The goal is to move students to Proficient or Advanced level by the end of Grade 5 and to the Proficient or Advanced level again by the end of Grade 8.

Beginning in the 2002-2003 school year, students in Grade s 3, 5 and 8 will also be assessed with a criterion-referenced portion of the Achievement Test. Students will have additional items in reading, language, and math. In the 2003-2004 school year, criterion referenced items in social studies and science will be added. This new implementation is done to be in compliance with the federal mandates of "No Child Left Behind." Additional information may be obtained at www.NoChildLeftBehind.gov/index.html

Testing Accommodations

Any departure from standardized test administration procedures can potentially invalidate test results. There are three types of testing accommodations available for student use. TCAP Allowable Accommodations may be used by all students as needed. Special Conditions Accommodations may be used only by students receiving special education services who have the need documented by their Individual Education Program Team (IEP Team). . For information on these accommodations and other information regarding Special Education and State Assessments, please see the section titled Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) on the Special Education website.English Language Learner (ELL) accommodations are being implemented for the 2002-2003 academic year and may be used only by students who meet specified criterion for ELL services. The ELL Policy may be found at the ESL website.

For more detailed test information click here tstcapachievement.htm

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