CCPS offers a rigorous curriculum to challenge students and help them reach their full potential. We follow various state and federal guidelines for testing student achievement.
Assessments
Resources
Maryland Report Card
The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), passed in 2015, required states to develop long term plans to make sure schools provide a quality education for all students. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) plan to implement ESSA was approved by the US Department of Education in early 2018.
MSDE provides the Maryland Report Card website to inform families, educators, and other community members. The website features individual school report cards, which measure a wide range of factors.
High School Assessments
HSAs measure school and individual student progress toward Maryland’s High School Core Learning Goals. Passing the HSA is a graduation requirement.
HSA Resources
PARCC Testing
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a 22-state partnership to develop assessments that measure progress toward academic standards. PARCC testing is administered to students in grades 3 – 8. The tests measure proficiency in English Language Arts / Literacy and Mathematics.
Universal Screener
Universal Screener for Reading Difficulties and Math Skills
Universal screening in reading and math provides Caroline County Public School staff with information about the strengths and needs of each child. The universal screener helps teachers identify students who may have challenges in reading or math and who may need additional support. The assessment tools, DIBELS 8 for reading, i-Ready Reading and i-Ready Math, are given to all Kindergarten and first grade students in the first weeks of school.
The reading assessment evaluates skills in five areas: phonological awareness, phonics, high-frequency words, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The math assessment evaluates skills in four areas: numbers and operations, measurement and data, algebra and algebraic thinking, and geometry. In reading, teachers will collect additional information about language processing using a second tool, DIBELS 8 (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills). In math, teachers will use the Math Reasoning Inventory to focus on core reasoning strategies and understandings specific to numbers and operations. Together, these results will help teachers know what your child needs to reach his or her potential.
When each assessment is complete, teachers will share information with parents/guardians. The results will help families and teachers work together as partners in each child’s education.
Next Steps After Screening
The screener provides a first look at areas in which students may need extra support. Teachers will plan targeted instruction or intervention in areas of need. Students will be provided with individual or small group, targeted supplemental instruction during the school day to address reading and math skill areas. In reading, supplemental instruction means evidence-based, sequential, systematic, explicit and cumulative instruction or intervention to mastery of foundational reading skills including: phonological or phonemic awareness and processing phonics and vocabulary to support development of decoding, spelling, fluency, and reading comprehension skills to meet grade level curriculum. Parents/guardians will receive quarterly progress reports from the teacher. The i-Ready assessments in reading and math also take place mid-year and at the end-of-the-year.
MSDE Checklist for Identifying Reading Difficulties and Dyslexia by age
Dyslexia Myths and Facts -Information about the research on reading difficulties and intervention strategies
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)
The State of Maryland is using a tool to learn more about children’s early learning experiences. This tool will provide teachers and parents information used to help children learn and grow. The new Kindergarten Readiness Assessment will be used by kindergarten teachers to measure what children know and can do when entering Kindergarten in the early learning areas of social skills, language and literacy, cognitive development, and physical well-being and motor development. (This assessment will NOT determine whether a child can be enrolled in Kindergarten.)
There are three ways for a child to show what he or she knows and is able to do:
- Selecting the answer to a question (example: “Show me the block that is the largest of three.”)
- Performing a requested task (example: retelling a short story)
- Being observed by the teacher during the school day’s activities or collecting their work samples
The Kindergarten teachers will have until November 1st to complete the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. It will help them tailor their instruction to the needs of each child. When the assessment is complete, teachers will share the report with families. This report will help families and teachers work as partners so that our children are successful in school.
College & Career Readiness Testing
Accuplacer Test
The Accuplacer Test is a placement test used by community colleges, four-year colleges, and technical schools around the world. This nationally-normed test provides fast, accurate assessment of an incoming college students’ ability to access college freshman coursework. It also identifies students who need remedial coursework.
AP Tests
The Advanced Placement Exams (AP) are given in May at both North Caroline High and Colonel Richardson High Schools. Students who take AP courses are expected to take AP exams. Over 400 college institutions may grant college credit to students who earn a qualifying score of 3, 4, or 5.
Pre-SAT
The Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) gives students the opportunity to practice for the SAT I. The PSAT allows the student to find information about various colleges and enter scholarship competitions. Caroline County administers the PSAT to all 10th graders at no cost to the students. Eleventh grade students, who elect to take the PSAT by paying the required testing fee and score well, may be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship. Students who take the PSAT are provided access to the College Board’s Big Future program that indicates AP testing potential and allows them to search for colleges and prepare for the SAT.
SAT
The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) consists of two different tests, the SAT I and the SAT II. The SAT I measures a student’s critical reading, mathematics and writing skills. It is used to assess the student’s readiness for college level work. Caroline County administers the SAT I to all 11th graders at no cost to the students. The SAT II is designed to measure a student’s knowledge in a specific subject and his/her ability to apply that knowledge. SAT II tests are available in areas such as literature, sciences, languages, math and history. Students should check with the college of their choice to determine which entrance exam is required by that institution. If a student qualifies for the free and reduced lunch program his/her qualifies for two free SAT tests beginning in 11th grade and four (4) free college applications.
ACT
The American College Test (ACT) is a widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skills in planning and writing a short essay. Students should check with the college of their choice to determine which entrance exam is required by the institution. If a student qualifies for the free and reduced lunch program he/she qualifies for two free tests beginning in 11th grade.
Career & Technology Education Assessments
CTE students will have the opportunity to earn state-issued professional licenses, full industry certification or pathway industry certification by participating in various industry assessments.
ASVAB
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test is given to all juniors every year. The ASVAB is a comprehensive aptitude test and it is given, free of charge, to all juniors in our school system. An aptitude is the capability a student has developed through experience or education that indicates his/her current readiness to become proficient in a certain type of activity, given the opportunity to do so. The instrument provides comparative scores for verbal, math, science, and technical areas which are comparable to SAT results. A Department of Defense employee administers the test but the scores are not given to military recruiters unless the student gives permission. This is an excellent tool to use as students finalize his/her career choices.
PowerSchool
PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS) is a data system covering administrative needs in our school system such as scheduling, grades, attendance, state compliance reporting, data management, faculty management, emergency/medical and health management, registration, special program enrollments, graduation requirements, communication with students and parents, rostering for third-party instructional software and more. For teachers, PowerSchool provides an industry-leading gradebook, PowerTeacher Pro. PowerSchool users enjoy a fully web-based SIS system that is flexible, configurable, and scalable with real-time updates on any operating system, browser or device.
Contacts
Jon Grow
Supervisor of Accountability & Student Data
410.479.3054 x1129 | [email protected]
Cheryl Lawrence
Technology Coordinator / PowerSchool Administrator
410.479.2896 x151 | [email protected]