Vermont Assessments

Overview

This program coordinates the implementation and administration of all components of the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment System (CAS), including the development of alternate assessments, assessments that have been modified to accommodate the specific testing needs of students who have disabilities. The team also identifies, analyzes, and reports on outcomes and data measured by the CAS.

Established by the State Board of Education in 1996, the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment System (CAS) evaluates student performance in the state’s schools, based on Vermont’s Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities, with the goal of improving teaching and learning. Statewide assessments include:

• Vermont Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA), administered in grade 2
• NECAP mathematics, reading and writing assessments are being administered for the first time in the fall of 2005 in grades 3-8 (writing in grades 5 and 8 only)
• NECAP pilots for high school students in grade 11 will be administered in November 2006 in writing, mathematics and reading. The science pilot for grade 11 students will be administered in May 2007.

Schools also assess student performance in additional subject areas and at additional grade levels using portfolios (collections of student work), norm-referenced standardized tests, and locally developed assessments.

Links to currently available information

Assessment Data Results InformationView links to various student, school, supervisory unions/districts, state, and national assessment results information (e.g., NECAP, NSRE, VT-DRA, VT-PASS, SAT, AP and the Nation's Report Card).

New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) Information (Updated 5/9/07)Learn about Vermont’s new grade 3 through 8 state assessments in reading, mathematics and writing, which became fully operational in fall 2005. The NECAP Web page provides links to a variety of documents about the new tests, including test administration manuals and training materials.

Grade Expectations for Vermont's Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities
This series of documents provides grade level expectations in mathematics, reading and writing and grade cluster expectations for other contents areas. Grade level expectations are more specific statements of the Vermont standards that form the basis for the New England Common Assessment Program in mathematics and reading grades 3 through 8 and writing in grades 5 and 8. Grade cluster expectations provide guidance for local assessment. Links to GE materials may also be accessed on the individual curriculum content pages.

Vermont Professional Development Network (VPDN) Meeting Schedules for Spring 2007Spring 2007 meetings for literacy, mathematics and science have been completed.

Alternate Assessment ResourcesInformation and resources specific to alternate assessment forms, assessment options and lifeskills portfolios may be found on the Alternate Assessment Web page.