Students across the State of Illinois will take 2019 state-required achievement tests beginning the week of March 11, 2019. The testing window is March 18 – April 17.
The PSAT/SAT tests will be administered on April 9, 2019. An optional exam for high school foreign language students to earn the Seal of Biliteracy is scheduled for March 28, 2019.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
Students in grades 3 – 8 will be tested in English language arts/literacy and mathematics as part of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) program. The Illinois Assessment of Readiness measures the same standards and includes the same high-quality test questions used the last four years in the PARCC test. Students, familiesand schools will experience essentially no difference in the assessment this year.
The results of these state tests will be reported to parents and the public on the School Report Card in the fall. Our school district will review these state test results along with other information to help us improve our school program. In addition, parents/guardians will receive information about each individual child’s performance on the state tests he or she took.
You can help your child do his/her best on the test by:
1) making sure, if possible, that your child attends school on the days of testing;
2) making sure your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before testing;
3) providing breakfast on the mornings of testing;
4) reminding your child to ask the teacher questions if he or she does not understand the test directions;
5) letting your child know that you have confidence in his or her ability to do his or her best; and
6) advising your child not to worry about the test – just do the best he or she can.
Illinois Science Assessment
All fifth- and eighth-graders and some high school students (Biology I and Pre-AP Biology I) will take the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) between March 18 and April 30. The ISA aligns with the new Illinois Learning Standards in science.
This assessment helps families understand how well students are performing academically and see whether they are on track to succeed in college. The ISA represents Illinois’ commitment to preparing all students for college and careers, including in the high-demand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The assessment also satisfies federal accountability requirements.
The ISA is designed to reflect classroom experiences. Many students who took the assessment last year said the ISA seemed more like instruction than a test. Students do not simply select an answer and fill in the bubble of a multiple-choice test. Rather, the ISA pushes students to apply their knowledge when they give answers, thus better preparing them for higher education and a career.
The ISA is an hour-long summative assessment. The results provide administrators with important data to help them make broad curriculum decisions at the school and district levels.
We encourage parents/guardians to talk with children about the importance of doing their best on the ISA, while communicating that the assessment yields only one piece of information about them and their school’s progress. Students’ attendance, classroom work, homework, projects, performance on local tests, participation in sports and extracurricular activities, and contributions to the school’s climate and culture all help them grow and learn.
Please watch for communication from each CUSD 10 school regarding specific IAR & ISA testing dates and contact your child’s teacher if you want additional information or have further questions about these tests.
PSAT/SAT
Collinsville High School will join all other high schools in administering the Preliminary SAT (grades 9 and 10) and SAT (grade 11) on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.
The CHS Counseling Department has been offering optional SAT prep classes since February. In addition, Official SAT Practice is available on Khan Academy’s Official SAT Practice website. Students can use this website to increase their test scores. The CHS counseling department is monitoring who uses Khan Academy’s Official SAT practice the most and issues one pizza per grade level each week up until test day. Students who – from the beginning of the school year to April 9th – spend over 20 hours preparing to test are eligible for a field trip.
Note: Seniors do not report to CHS on April 9, 2019. Seniors will be released for the day to attend a college visit, job shadow or explore a career option.
Seal of Biliteracy
Collinsville High School offers the Seal of Biliteracy exam for students to demonstrate their foreign language proficiency and earn a special commendation on their diploma. The exams will be given on March 22nd, 26th, 27th and 28, 2019 with a make-up date of March 29th. Contact the CHS Counseling Department or any foreign language teacher for more details.