ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
Student progress in the Norwalk–La Mirada Unified School District is assessed using a variety of assessments. These include:
State Standards Assessments
Standards based tests are aligned with the State standards in the areas of Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science.
California Standards Tests (CST) are standards-based tests that measure the achievement of state content standards in english-language arts, mathematics, science, and history-social science. These state tests are given in grades 2 – 11 in the spring.
CST Writing Test is a state test administered in March to fourth and seventh grade students.
Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) are designed for spanish-speaking english learners to measure the achievement of state content standards in reading-language arts and mathematics in spanish, for grades two, three, and four.
Aprenda: La prueba de logros en español, Tercera edición (Aprenda 3) is a nationally norm-referenced achievement test of general academic knowledge in Spanish for spanish-speaking english learners (for grades eight through eleven in 2007).
California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) is for students who have significant cognitive disabilities and replaces the CST.
California English Language Development Test (CELDT) is administered between July and October to identify pupils who are limited english proficient, determine the level of english language proficiency, and to assess the progress of limited-english-proficient pupils in acquiring the skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing in English.
Physical Fitness Test (PFT) The PFT uses criterion-referenced standards to evaluate performance for each fitness area (e.g., body composition, abdominal strength, and endurance). The Cooper Institute established the standards using current research and expert opinions. These standards represent a level of fitness that offer some protection against the diseases associated with physical inactivity. The PFT is given in the spring to grades five, seven, and nine.
Benchmark Exams measure student progress in mastering the California content standards in specific grades and subjects. Presently students in grades 2 – 11 are tested in language arts. Students in middle school and high school are tested in math as well.
Educators Assessment Data Management Systems (EADMS) Benchmark Exams are given three times a year at key instructional points and prior to the annual administration of the California Standards Tests. The Benchmark Exams provide teachers, site administrators, and school district administrators tools to correlate data to the CST and to plan for areas needing improvement. Students can also use the Benchmarks in a powerful way, as the results allow them to become partners in their learning and prepare for high-stakes assessments such as the CST, the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), and eventually college entrance tests like the SAT and ACT.
District Benchmark Writing Assessment is the result of collaboration between teachers, administrators, administrative assistants, and consultants. It provides students writing opportunities similar to those included in the CST in writing. It identifies strengths and weakness of student writing in order to tailor teaching and learning activities.
Classroom Assessments - Teachers use a variety of tests, multiple choice, open-ended, essay, performance tasks, and demonstrations. Classroom assessments are more frequent and provide in-depth information about how well a child is progressing in meeting/exceeding the State Standards.