When are students tested? 1
Annually, 4th through 12th grades
What subjects are tested? 1
Language Arts
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Biology
U.S. History
Vocational Areas
What types of questions are used? 1
Multiple choice
Short written response
Extended written response
Examples of student work
How are test results used? 1
High school graduation (exit requirement)
High school skills guarantee
Student diagnosis
Curriculum planning
Improvement of instruction
Professional development
Program evaluation
School accreditation
School performance reporting
Warnings to schools
School monetary penalties
Schools placed on probation or watch lists
School takeovers
Schools granted exemptions from regulations
What tests are used? 1
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (grades 4 - 9)
Mississippi Subject Area Testing Program (grades 9 - 11)
Mississippi Functional Literacy Test (grade 11)
Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment Vocational Test (ACT Work
Keys, grades 11, 12)
Are students with disabilities exempt?
2, 3
Exemptions given to students enrolled in less than 3 regular education
academic classes, or to students enrolled with an alternate or parallel
curriculum.
Exemptions given to students for whom allowable accommodations are
insufficient and who cannot adhere to norm-referenced standardization procedures,
as determined by the IEP team.
For High School Exit Exam - Exemptions given to students not pursuing
a high school diploma.
What accommodations are available so
that students with disabilities can participate? 2
List of accommodations approved by state Department of Education.
Other accommodations available with state approval.
How are scores of students with disabilities
reported? 2
School, district, and statewide reports separate ("disaggregate") scores
for students receiving non-standardized accommodations and testing conditions
from scores of students without disabilities.
Footnotes:
1 Source: PEER Project Survey to expand and update information from Annual Survey of State Student Assessment Programs: Data on 1995-96 Statewide Student Assessment Programs. (Fall 1996). Council of Chief State School Officers.
2 Source: PEER Project review of state policy documents. Documents provided by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). Information confirmed and updated by the PEER Project through direct communication with state officials.
3 NOTE: The IDEA Amendments of 1997 require that all students be included in statewide assessments.
Mississippi Department of Education
Office of Special Education
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205-0771
601-359-3498
601-359-2198 Fax
www.mdek12.state.ms.us
Contact: Carolyn Black, Director
Sue Shurtless, Division Director
sshurtless@mdek12.state.ms.us
Loretta Smith, State Assessment Director
Mississippi Parent Centers on Disability
Project Empower
1427 S. Main, Suite 8
Greenville, MS 38701
1-800-337-4852
601-332-4852
601-332-1622 Fax
Contact: Agnes Johnson
Parent Partners
3111 North State St.
Jackson, MS 39216
601-366-5707
1-800-366-5707 in MS
601-362-7361 Fax
ptiofms@misnet.com
Contact: Aretha Lee