Arizona: A Parent's Guide to Understanding AIMS Dual Purpose Assessment

For more information contact:

Mailing Address:

Arizona Department of Education Standards-Based Teaching & Learning

1535 W. Jefferson, Bin 5

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Tel: (602) 364-2335 Fax: (602) 364-0902

http://www.azed.gov/standards-development-assessment/contact-assessment/

TIPS

What can you do to help your child?

• Participate in your child’s learning activities

• Read aloud to your child, beginning at an early age

• Encourage good study habits

• Set aside a specific time for homework

• Provide a quiet, well-lighted place for your child to study

• Communicate often with your child’s teachers

• Talk to your child often about school

• Require regular school attendance

• Emphasize the importance of academic achievement

• Provide activities at home that relate to school learning

• Provide your child with a balanced, nutritional diet

• Support and encourage your child

• Listen to your child

• Visit the ADE website and access the AIMS

DPA sample tests

Arizona Department of Education Assessment Section Tel: 602-542-5031

The Arizona Department of Education of the State of Arizona does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age in its programs, activities or in its hiring and employment practices.

What is the Purpose of AIMS DPA?

The purpose of Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards Dual Purpose Assessment (AIMS DPA) is:

• To reduce testing time from two weeks to one week students are taking fewer tests classroom instructional time is increased

• To provide parents, teachers, and school districts information about a student’s academic strengths and weaknesses AIMS DPA is a statewide assessment that is both standards-based, measuring

• Students knowledge against the Arizona Academic Standards, and normreferenced,

• Comparing student knowledge against students nationwide.

• TerraNova norm-referenced test items included in the test compare a student’s performance to students nationwide

• AIMS test items measure a child’s knowledge--without comparison to other students-- based on whether the child is proficient in accordance with the Arizona Academic Standards

• AIMS questions are written by Arizona educators

It is important that you encourage your child to put forth his or her very best efforts on the AIMS DPA.

Arizona Academic Standards

The Arizona Academic Standards are established academic expectations for teaching and learning. They are statements of knowledge and skills that every child is expected to learn. The standards were developed by the State of Arizona educational community and adopted by the State Board of Education to meet federal and state guidelines. Currently, academic standards for Grades 3 through 8 have been developed in the following content areas:

• Reading

• Writing

• Mathematics

• Science

• Social Studies

• Foreign Language

• Technology

• Arts

• Comprehensive Health/PE

• Workplace Skills

The AIMS DPA currently assesses students in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics.

What do the test results mean?

The AIMS DPA provides a norm-referenced test score (NRT) and an AIMS score. The results of the tests are used by classroom teachers to guide instruction and improve student learning.

• The NRT compares a child’s performance on certain test items to the performance of students nationwide by way of a percentile ranking

• The AIMS score assesses a child’s knowledge of the Arizona State Standards. Each child will receive one of the following scores for each of the three areas tested - reading, writing, andmathematics.

• Exceeds the Standard – denotes superior academic performance on challenging subject matter reflected by the content standards

• Meets the Standard – denotes solid academic performance and understanding of the state content standards

• Approaches the Standard – denotes partial understanding of the skills and knowledge necessary for proficient work at grade level

• Falls Far Below the Standard - denotes insufficient understanding of the prerequisite skills; students who achieve at this level have serious gaps in knowledge and skills and may require remediation

For more information about the Arizona Academic Standards or for sample test items, visit the Arizona Department of Education website at:

http://www.azed.gov/standards-development-assessment/