West Virginia State Assessments

With the focus on School Improvement for schools in West Virginia, we are entering a time of transition to the West Virginia Measures of Academic Progress.

Research shows that as we use data from our assessments to inform educators of various areas of growth and change, educators are better prepared to meet school and student needs. Statewide consistency of purpose is our goal as we work towards school improvement and the improvement of student learning for all students. West Virginia, as a state, has always sought high standards through the state's accountability practices. Today we look forward to meeting the standards of No Child Left Behind.

The following narrative specifies each assessment within the state assessment system to include:

1. name of assessment/grade level of administration
2. type of the assessment
3. description/purpose of assessment
4. uses and decision-making data for each assessment
5. current vendor

Informal Item Bank (Grades 3-8 and 10) provides the teacher the opportunity to create classroom assessments that are aligned to the West Virginia Content Standards and Objectives (CSOs) that he/she taught that instructional period or cycle. The informal item bank is to be used as informal classroom assessment to re-direct instruction based on student mastery of the CSOs. CTB/McGraw-Hill is the vendor for the Informal Item Bank.

WESTEST (Grades 3-8 and 10) is a criterion-referenced test that measures student mastery of the West Virginia Content Standards and Objectives (CSOs) by the content area and grade level of the student’s enrollment. The purpose of the WESTEST is to measure student mastery of the CSOs. The assessment results are used to determine achievement levels, re-direct instruction and assist in school improvement efforts in reading/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Additionally, WESTEST results are used to calculate accountability to meet the NCLB accountability requirements in grades 3-8 and 10 in reading/language arts and mathematics (See AYP Calculation Chart). CTB/McGraw-Hill is the vendor for WESTEST.

Alternate Performance Task Assessment - APTA (Grade 3-8 and 10) is a criterion-referenced test that measures student mastery of the West Virginia Extended Content Standards and Objectives (CSOs) by the content area and grade level of the student’s enrollment. The purpose of the APTA is to measure student mastery of the Extended CSOs for the severe and profound special education populations. The assessment results are used determine achievement levels, to re-direct instruction and assist in school improvement efforts in reading/language arts and mathematics. Additionally, APTA results are used to calculate accountability to meet the NCLB accountability requirements in grades 3-8 and 10 in reading/language arts and mathematics

ACT EXPLORE (Grade 8) is a norm-referenced assessment that generates measures of English, mathematics, reading, and science skills for 8th grade students. In addition, information about students' educational career plans, interest, high school course work plans and self-identified needs for assistance is gathered and reported. West Virginia State Board of Education Policy 2510: Assuring the Quality of Education Regulations for Education Programs requires that career awareness, exploration activities and ACT EXPLORE results be used by 8th graders to develop their individualized plans for the 9th and 10th grades. The purpose of this assessment is to provide career awareness, exploration activities; additionally, it is used by 8th graders to develop their individualized plans for the 9th and 10th grades. Assessment results assist students/parents/educators in decision-making about educational career plans, interest and high school course work plans. ACT is the vendor for ACT EXPLORE.

ACT Plan (Grade 10) is a norm-referenced assessment that generates measures of English, mathematics, reading and science skills for 10th grade students. Information about students' educational career plans, interest, high school course work plans and self-identified needs for assistance are also gathered and reported. The purpose of this assessment is to provide career awareness, exploration activities; additionally, it is used by 10th graders to revise their individualized plans for the 11th and 12th grades. These assessment results assist students/parents/educators in decision-making about educational career plans, interest, and high school course work plans. ACT is the vendor for ACT Plan.

National Assessment Educational Progress (Grades 4, 8) is a criterion-referenced test of the national NAEP Standards. NAEP assesses specific academic areas in students who are randomly selected in grades 4, 8 and 12. NCLB requires NAEP reading and mathematics assessments to be administered to fourth and eighth grade students every two years. West Virginia State Code and policy require all schools selected in NAEP to participate in NAEP assessments at the fourth, eighth and twelfth grades. There are no individual student, school or county results provided for this assessment. The purpose of this assessment is to assess and report what students know and should be able to do. NAEP assessments results will be used as 1) an informal validation of the state assessment results in grades 4 and 8 for reading, mathematics and science and program evaluation. The federal government pays for this program; ETS has the current federal contract.

Writing Assessment (Grades 4, 7, 10) is a criterion-referenced test of the West Virginia Writing Standards and Objectives, which are part of the West Virginia CSOs by grade level. The purpose of this assessment is to inform instructional improvement and school improvement. The Writing Assessment results are used to make instructional decisions and assist in school improvement efforts in reading and writing. CTB/McGraw-Hill is the vendor for scoring grades 7 and 10. West Virginia educators are contracted to score grade 4 of the Writing Assessment.