Assessment & Accountability

Lake Worth ISD Assessment Program
 
Assessment in Lake Worth ISD comes in a variety of formats, both formal and informal. Teachers continually conduct informal assessments to determine the level of student learning. The results of these informal assessments help teachers know when to adjust instruction. Formal assessments such as student assignments, classroom tests, and projects often provide the foundation for grades that students receive on report cards at the end of each grading period.  
 
At the end of each unit in core subject areas (reading, mathematics, science, and social studies), teachers also administer unit assessments. Unit assessments are always based on the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) covered during the unit of study. The results of these unit assessments provide information to teachers about concepts and topics that need additional instructional time. Additionally, teachers, principals, and curriculum staff use the results to identify potential weaknesses in instructional methods and materials. 

Additional assessments given or offered by LWISD include:

• mClass - Students in K-6 are assessed in reading and offered interventions for early literacy that helps every child learn to read confidently. 
• GT testing - ability test which is designed to "collectively asses the ability of students for each grade level". According to the Texas Education Code 29.121, gifted and talented refers to a child who performs or shows the potential of performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others fo the same age,experience, or environment.  The child also exhibits an unusual capacity for leadership or high-performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area.
• NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) - Students in grades K-10 are assessed in the areas of reading, language arts, and mathematics. Given in the fall and in the spring.
• PSAT/NMSQT - Students in grades 10-11 may take the PSAT to measure college readiness. Offered in the fall. Fee involved. (PSAT/NMSQT is part of the College Board's College Readiness Pathway)
• SAT - Students in grades 11 and 12 may take the SAT to measure academic skills required for success in college today. Offered multiple times throughout the year. Fee involved. (SAT is part of the College Board's College Readiness Pathway)
• AP exam for certain subjects - AP Exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well a student has mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course.
• TSIA 2 -  The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) is a series of placement tests for students enrolling in public colleges and universities in Texas. The tests help Texas schools determine whether you’re ready for college-level courses in the areas of reading, writing, and math.

Texas State Assessment Program   Statewide assessment of Texas students began in the 1980-1981 school year. The state assessment program has evolved several times since then. Current state assessments are required for all students in grades 3-8 and for specified high school courses. The Texas student assessment program is designed to measure the extent to which a student has learned and is able to apply the defined knowledge and skills at each tested grade or course level.  

Under federal mandates, students with severe cognitive disabilities and students with limited English proficiency now participate in testing on grade level curriculum. Students meeting very specific cognitive criteria (approximately 1% of students) are eligible to be given an alternative form of the test, which still ties back to the grade level curriculum. In addition to testing on grade level curriculum, students with limited English proficiency are also assessed annually to measure their progress in attaining English proficiency.

STAAR® In spring 2012, the State of Texas implemented the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®). This new assessment program replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).  

The STAAR® program includes the following annual assessments:

• Reading and Mathematics in grades 3-8
• Science in grades 5 and 8
• Social Studies in grade 8
• End-of-Course assessments for English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History

Specialized STAAR® tests are available to students meeting specific criteria:

• STAAR Alternate 2 - This assessment is available for students who have significant cognitive disabilities and are receiving special education services. The appropriate ARD committee must determine that the student meets the eligibility requirements.

TELPAS The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) is administered to all students in grades K-12 who are identified as limited English proficient (LEP). TELPAS is designed to assess the annual progress that LEP students make in learning the English language.   TELPAS assesses social and academic English language skills in the following areas:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading/Writing

  TELPAS results assign an English proficiency level to each of the four areas assessed:

• Beginning - Students who receive this rating are in the early stages of learning English. These students have a small vocabulary of very common words and little ability to use English in academic settings. These students often communicate using English they have memorized.
• Intermediate - Students who receive this rating are able to use common, basic English in routine academic activities but need considerable English language support to make learning understandable. Socially, these students are able to communicate simply about familiar topics and are generally able to understand conversations but may not comprehend all the details.
• Advanced - Students who receive this rating are able to understand and use English in classroom activities when given some English language support. In social situations, these students can understand most of what they hear but have some difficulty with unfamiliar grammar and vocabulary.
• Advanced High - Students who receive this rating are able to use English in classroom activities with little English language support from others, even when learning about unfamiliar materials. Students at this level have a large enough vocabulary in English to communicate clearly and fluently in most situations.