When are students tested? 1
3rd through 9th grades
11th grade
What subjects are tested? 1
Language Arts
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
What types of questions are used? 1
Multiple choice
Extended written response / Essay
How are test results used? 1
High school graduation (exit requirement)
Endorsed high school diploma
Student diagnosis
Identification of students at risk
Curriculum planning
Improvement of instruction
Professional development
Program evaluation
School performance reporting
What tests are used? 1
Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program
Achievement test - norm-referenced test (grades 3 - 8)
Achievement test - criterion-referenced test (grades 3 - 8)
Writing assessment (grades 4, 7, 11)
Competency test (grade 9)
Are students with disabilities exempt?
2, 3
Exemptions given to students not capable of completing the test, as
determined by IEP team.
Exemptions given to students whose scores would not be valid due to
non-standardized accommodations, as determined by IEP team.
What accommodations are available so
that students with disabilities can participate? 2
List of accommodations approved by state Department of Education.
How are scores of students with disabilities
reported? 2
School, district, and statewide reports both combine ("aggregate")
and separate ("disaggregate") scores of students with and 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.
Tennessee Department of Education
Division of Special Education
AndreJohnson Tower, 5th Floor
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0380
615-741-2851
615-532-9412 Fax
www.state.tn.us/education
Contact: Joseph Fisher, Executive Director
jfisher@mail.state.tn.us
Ben Brown, State Assessment Directory
615-532-4770
Tennessee Parent Center on Disability
STEP
424 E. Bernard Ave., Suite 3
Greeneville, TN 37745
423-639-0125 Voice
423-636-8217 TDD
1-800-280-STEP in TN
423-636-8217 Fax
tnstep@aol.com
www.tnstep.org
Contact: Nancy Diehl