TESTING DATES FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR: November 1st-November 7th

WKCE Test Information

When do the WKCE tests take place, and who takes them?

The WKCE math and reading assessments area administered to all students in grades 4,5,6,7, and 8.

The WKCE language arts, writing, science and social studies assessments are also administered to students in grades 4, and 8.

What does all this testing mean?

The  No Child Left Behind Act requires all states to test all students in reading and mathematics in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school (grade 10 under Wisconsin law s.118.30).  These tests are referred to as the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination - Criterion-Referenced Tests (WKCE-CRT). (In Wisconsin, language arts, science, social studies and writing are also tested in grades 4,8, and 10.)  Student performance on these assessments is reported in proficiency categories and used to determine the adequate yearly progress of students at the school, district and state levels.

These standardized tests include commercially-developed questions used in schools across the country and questions developed specifically for Wisconsin in order to improve coverage of Wisconsin academic standards. The WKCE-CRT measures achievement in reading, language applications, mathematics, science, and social studies using multiple-choice and short-answer questions. Students also provide a rough draft writing sample. Total WKCE-CRT test time varies by grade and may range from 5 to 8.5 hours.

WKCE-CRT scores are used as one of several criteria for advancing students from grade to grade. The other criteria are academic performance, teacher recommendations based on academic performance, and any other academic criteria specified by the local school board.

 (Adapted from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction web site content)

What is Adequate Yearly Progress?

The No Child Left Behind Act (ESEA) requires states to set target goals for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student achievement data. States are required to “raise the bar” for AYP each year to meet the NCLB goal of having all students, including nine different subgroups of students, proficient in reading and math by the 2013-14 school year. The Wisconsin Knowledge and Comprehension Examination (WKCE) serves as the basis for calculating AYP in Wisconsin. Each district/school must test all of its students in grades 3,4,5,6,7,8, and 10, meet proficiency standards in reading and mathematics, and meet 90% of the state graduation/attendance average.  Under NCLB, it’s important for schools as a whole to meet target AYP goals. Additionally, all subgroups in a school must meet the target goals; if even one group does not meet the AYP target goals, the school will not make AYP. Schools receiving Title I funding, a federal program that provides resources to schools in areas of economic need, could face sanctions under NCLB if the school does not make AYP for two or more years in a row. Sanctions increase in severity for every year a Title I school does not make AYP.  For more information on AYP, click here.

  (Adapted from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction web site content)

Preparing for Testing:
? Note test dates on your home calendar; schedule appointments on non-testing days
? Encourage your child to take responsibility for homework and class study
? Help your child learn how to find information independently
?  Praise your child for work done well
?  Encourage your child to ask questions at home and in class
?  Get to know your child’s teachers
?  Attend parent-teacher conferences
?  Confer with teachers on a regular basis for progress reports
?  Gather available test preparation materials
?   Assure your child knows that you value a good education

Testing Day:
?   See that your child is rested and eats breakfast
?   See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed
?   Encourage your child to do the best work possible
?   Do not send your child to school if illness is apparent
?   Do not remove your child from school on tests days for appointments

Test Anxiety:

Some students may experience anxiety about tests and may experience heightened anxiety before a testing situation.  A certain degree of test anxiety is normal and may help students prepare more effectively, work more efficiently, and remain focused during testing.  Too much anxiety, however, can negatively affect performance.  The following strategies may assist students and parents in reducing test anxiety.

Parent Strategies for Reducing Test Anxiety:
?  Discuss the test openly and in a positive way
?  Have a realistic expectations of your child’s performance while encouraging his/her best efforts
?  Emphasize that the test is only one measure of academic performance
?  Emphasize that test scores do not determine a person’s worth