"In a Nutshell"

STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting)

· These annual standardized tests are California state mandated, and in compliance with NCLB, 95% student participation is required for grades 2-11.

· Upon enrollment, parents/students sign an IEM School Charter Summary which states they are required to participate in state mandated assessments.

· Grades 4 & 7 have a separate, additional exam date for a writing portion of STAR testing. Please check your school calendar for specific dates. This portion of the STAR test is required for grades 4 & 7.

· Dates for the grades 2-11 multiple choice portion of the test are within the state mandated test window. Please check your school calendar for the test window, and your specific test site schedules for specific dates and times as they become available.

· Dates for STAR are mandated yearly by the State Board of Education.

· Students must test at the grade level indicated on their student agreement (with the exception of students with specific IEP statements).

· Individual test scores are confidential and are sent directly to the parent/student by IEM usually in late August, after they are received by IEM.

· Scores collected by the State are aggregates, merged into group grade level reports by subject. Individual scores are confidential and are not collected by the State.

· STAR study resources can be found online at the following link: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/resources.asp

· Grades 2, 3, and 6 test subjects include Language Arts/Reading, Spelling, and Math.

· Grade 4 and 7 test subjects include Language Arts/Reading, Spelling, Math, and the Writing Exam.

· Grade 5 test subjects include Language Arts/Reading, Spelling, Math, and 20 CST questions on science.

· Grade 8 test subjects include Language Arts/Reading, Spelling, Math, Science and History-Social Science.

· All students in grades 8 and 9 are required to take a CST (California Standards Test) math test, based on math courses they are currently taking or have completed (some 10 and 11th grade students may not take a CST math test).

· Grade 9 test subjects include Language Arts/Reading and Math.

· Grades 10 test subjects include Language Arts/Reading, and Life Science

Grade 11 test subjects include Language Arts/Reading, and American History

· In addition to the tests above, students in grades 9-11 are required to take a CST science test that is course-specific based on courses they are currently taking or have completed. (If the science course is not closely aligned with a test blueprint, no science test should be administered.) Students in 9-11 who are currently taking a World History course will take a CST in this subject.

· Student will need to bring a lunch, snacks, water, and a quiet activity to keep them occupied if they finish earlier than other students.