High School Testing

Assessments

Assessments are a necessary tool by which we can identify students’ strengths and weaknesses in order to better individualize their educational plan and supports and they are used to inform classroom instruction. These tools also assist us in determining a student’s level of academic mastery and may play a significant role in grade level placement decisions.

All students are required to attend tests/assessments/exams when they are assigned, or they will receive a zero (0). Students with excused absences will be given a make-up exam. Students may receive both a performance mastery grade as well as a participation grade for all tests/assessments/exams.

Find out more about Standardized Testing at GCA.

Pre-Tests

Pre-tests

Pre-tests are mandatory, as these critical assessments help teachers design learning experiences and inform instructional groupings. All students who enroll in the course will be required to complete the pre-test. This pre-test will be entered in the gradebook as a completion grade only. A grade of zero (0%) will be given as a participation grade in the gradebook to all enrolled students who have not completed the pre-test within two weeks of enrollment. Students will earn a 100% participation grade for completing the pre-test within one week of enrolling in the course.

Quizzes

Quizzes will be administered throughout the course, to assist teachers in assessing student mastery, as well as to guide instruction. Students will have two (2) attempts to pass quizzes provided that they attend a small group or 1:1 session to review the material again before the 2nd attempt. If a student performs poorly on a quiz, he or she will have one (1) additional attempt to demonstrate mastery. After the first attempt, the student will be invited to a small group or 1:1 session for re-teaching before the second (2nd) and final attempt. The student must attend re-teaching session before the second attempt is allowed.

Interim Assessments

Interim Assessments (IAs) will be administered during the final week of the Instructional Cycle during live class sessions. Interim Assessments are monitored on camera.

Students classified as Proficient or Distinguished typically will be exempt from the live class sessions and may complete the assessments anytime during the test window. However, a teacher may require that a Proficient or Distinguished student schedule a time to take the interim assessment on camera during the given assessment window if there is any cause for concern that the previous data collected may not be accurate and/or the student is failing the subject/course.

Interim Assessments will be recorded in the gradebook as both an assessment and a participation grade. They will be graded for accuracy and the student’s actual score will be entered in the Assessment category of the gradebook. Students will not be allowed to re-take an Interim Assessment.

Students who receive accommodations for extended time are expected to submit their Interim Assessments on the same due date as other students. Extended time refers to the number of minutes allotted during an assessment session and all students have unlimited time during a sitting to complete the Interim Assessments. Students who receive accommodations will receive appropriate time allowances.

Final Exams

Final Exams are the summative assessment for each semester. Sometimes Final Exams are referred to as Interim Assessments (IAs), especially during first semester of a year-long course/subject. If a Final Exam is referred to as an Interim Assessment, then it will be the LAST Interim Assessment administered in the semester. Final Exams are monitored on camera.

Students classified as Proficient or Distinguished typically will be exempt from the live class sessions and may complete the assessments anytime during the test window. However, a teacher may require that a Proficient or Distinguished student schedule a time to take the interim assessment or final exam on camera during the given assessment window if there is any cause for concern that the previous data collected may not be accurate and/or the student is failing the subject/course.

Final Exams will be recorded in the gradebook as both an assessment and a participation grade. Final exams will count toward the student’s final course average. They will be graded for accuracy and the student’s actual score will be entered in the Final Exam category of the gradebook. Students will not be allowed to re-take a Final Exam.

Students who receive accommodations for extended time are expected to submit their Final Exams on the same due date as other students. Extended time refers to the number of minutes allotted during an assessment session and all students have unlimited time during a sitting to complete the Final Exam. Students who receive accommodations will receive appropriate time allowances.

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