A State assesses 5th, 8th, and 11th grade students in reading, mathematics, history, science, and health to produce school-, district-, and state-level scores. At each of the grade levels, three forms of a multiple-choice test are used. Each form consists of 25 items in each of the five content areas; 10 of these items are common across forms and 15 are unique to a form. The three forms are randomly assigned within schools to all students in the grade tested.

Each district in the State is required to develop or adopt additional assessments, matched to the State’s content and performance standards in reading, writing, and mathematics. Districts are required to administer these assessments to all students in the state-tested grades. Districts have the option to assess in additional content areas and at additional grade levels.

Individual student-level scores are based on the district-level assessments. School- and district-level aggregate scores are based on a combination of the State assessment and district assessment results.

As an option for district assessments, the State has developed additional items and open-ended tasks in each of the content areas on the State assessment. Districts may use these assessments, in conjunction with the State assessments, to produce student-level scores in these content areas. The State provides information on how to match and combine student scores on the State assessment with the supplemental assessments. Districts choosing this option also must assess their students in writing, using a locally-adopted/developed assessment.