Area schools preparing for 'rigorous' CSAP tests

Area schools preparing for 'rigorous' CSAP tests

Feb. 10, 2001

Test tips for parents

1. Make sure your child attends school every day. Do not schedule appointments or plan vacations during the testing period.

2. If your child becomes ill during the week of the test, notify the school. Make plans for the child to complete the test when he or she gets better.

3. Make sure your child gets eight to ten hours of sleep each night the week of the test.

4. Make sure your child eats a good breakfast on testing days.

5. Many schools ask children to bring a snack during testing week. Provide your child with a healthy snack, such as juice or a piece of fruit, cheese, crackers, tortilla, a sandwich or a granola bar. Avoid sugary snacks such as candy or cookies.

6. Make your child’s life as stress-free as possible during test week.

7. Expect your child to be tired during the week of the test.

8. Encourage your child to do their best on the test. Talk every night about how the test went.

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

Area schoolchildren and the educational institutions that foster their learning will soon be put to the test — the CSAPs. Starting Monday, students in grades 3 through 10 across the state will begin taking the rigorous tests.

Locally, students will take the CSAPs on a schedule set by their individual schools. The testing window closes March 9.

The CSAP (Colorado Student Assessment Program) tests are based on standards developed by the Colorado State Department of Education and each local school district, said Re-1 Assistant Superintendent George Shumpelt.

"The standards were created to ensure that all Colorado students will be ready to meet the extraordinary demands of the of the 21st century," Shumpelt said.

Once the tests are scored, each school will receive a report showing what percentage of its students tested as advanced, proficient, partially proficient or unsatisfactory for each grade level and subject area. Schools will then be ranked based on their CSAP results.

"A student’s CSAP score does not directly affect his or her individual report-card grades," Shumpelt said.

The 2001 Report Card rankings, available Aug. 15, will be assigned on a bell curve, meaning that only eight percent of the state’s schools will be designated as excellent and 2 percent unsatisfactory.

"The vast majority will fall somewhere in between," Shumpelt said.

CSAP results will also be used to evaluate the district’s curriculum. Administrators will be able to use this assessment to evaluate the progress of groups of students from one grade to the next.

"Reviews of this nature will ensure students have the best opportunity to succeed," Shumpelt said.

Individual schools are preparing for the CSAPs in their own way, stressing the importance of the results.

"We are doing what we call a CSAP focus," said Cortez Middle School Principal Byron Wiehe. "We take about 45 minutes each Wednesday and we work on CSAP-constructed test questions. The questions are on what we are doing in the curriculum right now but theyput in the form of CSAP questions."

The middle school started preparations on Jan. 10 and will continue right up until the students begin testing Feb. 26 through March 7, with two make-up days on March 8 and 9 — the last possible days for taking the tests.

"Our philosophy is that the longer we go, the more time we have in preparation," Wiehe said.

He added that the late date also allows the students more time to get as much yearly curriculum under their belt as possible.

"We want them to have all of the ability to do well on the test."

Wiehe said the school’s goal is also to make kids aware of what the CSAP entails and the importance of the results for them as individuals.

"This year will truly be a measuring stick for their ability and where they rank," Wiehe said. "This test score will go with them through high school."

Middle-school students will also be provided with breakfast the first day of testing. Wiehe said promoting proper daily habits like sufficient sleep and good health as well as perfect attendance are important parts of their strategy.

"It’s partly an exercise in endurance because it entails three full days of testing," Wiehe said. "I’ll also be doing a motivational thing to get them pumped up."

Parents with questions regarding this very rigorous test are encouraged to call 565-7522, ext. 127.