Assessment
Assessments in Giles County
-
A solid curriculum, effective instruction and quality assessments all play a role in providing a strong educational program for students in Giles County. Curriculum, derived from state standards, defines what students need to know. Instruction is the practice of teaching each student that curriculum. Assessment is used to measure the student’s progress and mastery of what is being taught.
Most of the information provided below refers to academic testing, but student progress is also monitored in other ways. Attendance records, motivation levels, engagement and interest levels, social skills, classroom participation, and more all help complete the picture of how a student is performing. All of this data is used to evaluate progress towards each student’s set goals.
2022-2023 Assessment Information
-
aimswebPlus Assessments
What is the purpose of aimswebPlus testing?
aimswebPlus is a universal screener used to assess basic reading skills, reading fluency, reading comprehension, math calculation, math problem solving, written expression, and more. are used to identify students in K-12 RTI who need more individualized support for reading and math skills.
In what grades are aimswebPlus tests administered?
aimswebPlus is given to students in grades K-8 to determine whether students demonstrate the skills necessary to achieve grade-level standards. Additionally, aimswebPlus is given to high school students new to the district or students who are identified as performing below grade-level standards.
How are parents and families notified of the results?
Individual benchmark reports are sent home to parents after each of the benchmark assessments. Students who fall below or significantly below grade level expectations may be identified for additional academic support and intervention. If the student qualifies for intervention, parents will continue to be notified of the progress every 4.5 weeks.
When are aimswebPlus tests administered?
Aimsweb tests are given three times per year.
Fall Benchmark - August 14-September 1
Winter Benchmark -December 4-15 (high school) and January 8-26 (K-8)
Spring Benchmark- April 10-May 14 -
ACT Testing
What is the purpose of ACT testing?
The ACT is used to assess students' academic readiness for college. This data is used to determine eligibility for graduation with honors, Tennessee Hope Scholarship, dual credit enrollment, and course placement.
How will parents be notified of results?
The results of ACT testing will be mailed to parents and students by ACT.
When are ACT tests administered?
ACT Fall Senior Testing
Standard (Paper): Oct. 4, 2022
Make-up (Paper): Oct. 18, 2022
Make-up (Paper) Nov 1, 2022
ACT Spring
Standard (Paper): March 7, 2022
Standard (Paper): March 21, 2022
-
AP Testing
What is the purpose and use of AP testing?
AP exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well you’ve mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course. AP courses have an end-of-year exam. Most colleges and universities have a written policy spelling out how they award credit and advanced placement. To get credit, you must request that the College Board send your official score report to the college of your choice.
In what grades will AP tests be administered?
GCSS currently offers online AP Access for All courses for qualifying students in 10th-12th grade.
How will parents and families be notified of the results?
Students can sign into their College Board account (sometime around July 5) to view their scores. Scores will also be sent to the school and added to the student’s transcript.
When are AP tests administered?
AP tests are administered in the spring, tentatively May 6-17.
-
CASE Benchmark Assessments
What is the purpose of CASE Benchmark Assessments?
CASE assessments are benchmark tests that are given twice per year in K-12 to measure student mastery of Tennessee standards in each subject. Teachers are able to use this data to provide students more prescriptive instruction.
When are CASE Benchmark Assessments administered?
CASE assessments are given twice per year.
Fall
October 27th -November 3rd
- HS Semester 1 Final Comprehensive Benchmarks
November 1st-9th
- K-8 ELA
- Grade 3 Math
- Grades 4-5 Science
- Grades 3-8 Social Studies
November 5th-17th
- K-2 and 4-8 Math
- Grades 3 and 6-8 Science
- Traditional HS Algebra I and Algebra II
Spring
February 28th - March 9th
How will parents be notified of results?
A copy of CASE Benchmark Assessment scores may be requested from your child's teacher.
-
TCAP TNReady Grades 2 (Math and ELA only) and Grades 3-8
What is the purpose of TNReady Testing?
TNReady Testing is given at the end of the year in grades 2-8. These state assessments measure how students have mastered learning in the classroom in Math, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. The information from these assessments gives educators, parents, and students a big picture perspective of how the student is progressing academically compared to their peers in Tennessee.
When are TNReady Tests Administered?
The TNReady testing window is:
April 17th-May 5th (Grades 2-8 paper-based)
April 17-May 5th (EOC computer-based)
The commissioner will make a final determination about the grades and subject area assessments that may be offered online after the results from the Spring 2021 Online Verification tests are analyzed.
How are parents and families notified of assessment results?
Parents will receive a report approximately five months after testing. More parent resources about TNReady testing can be found here.
-
TCAP EOC (Grades 9-12)
What is the purpose of TCAP EOC Testing?
TCAP EOC testing is given at the end of the year in grades 9-12. These state assessments measure how students have mastered learning in the classroom in English I, English II, Algebra I, Algebra II, Biology, Geometry, and US History. The information from these assessments gives educators, parents, and students a big picture perspective of how the student is progressing academically compared to their peers in Tennessee.
When are TNReady EOC Tests Administered?
Fall
November 28th-December 16th
Spring
April 18th-May 6th (Grades 2-8 paper-based)
April 18-May 20th (EOC computer-based)
The commissioner will make a final determination about the grades and subject area assessments that may be offered online after the results from the Spring 2021 Online Verification tests are analyzed.
How are parents and families notified of assessment results?
Parents will receive a report approximately five months after testing. More parent resources about TNReady testing can be found here.
-
WIDA ACCESS
What is the purpose of WIDA ACCESS testing?
ACCESS assessments are given to students identified as English language learners in grades K through 12.
How will parents be notified of results?
A letter will be sent home in the parents' native language within the federal guidelines.
When are ACCESS tests administered?
ACCESS assessments will be administered during the testing window of February 14- March 25, 2022.
