California Achievement Test Results 1998-99
Peacock Middle School

Grade: 6-8

Test: California Achievement Test

Edition/publication year: Forms E & F/1985

Publisher: CTB MacMillan/McGraw-Hill

What groups were excluded from testing, why, and how were they assessed Peacock excluded two groups from general norm-referenced testing. These groups were: students with disabilities whose IEP’s specified exclusion from testing and students in our English as a Second Language program (ESL) whose language proficiency limited reliable results. Students in our ESL program received the Illinois Measure of Annual Growth in English (IMAGE) beginning with the 1996-97 school year.

Number excluded: 1997 — 7, 1996 — 5, 1995 — 3
Percent excluded:1997 — 10%, 1996 — 6%, 1995 — 4%

Grade: 6 Scores are reported here as:NCEs

Number excluded:1997 — 6, 1996 — 5, 1995 — 1
Percent excluded:1997 — 7%, 1996 — 6%, 1995 — 1%

Grade: 7 Scores are reported here as:NCEs

Number excluded:1997 — 5, 1996 — 4, 1995 — 2
Percent excluded:1997 — 6%, 1996 — 5%, 1995 — 2%

Grade: 8 Scores are reported here as:NCEs

Following the 1996-97 school year, Itasca Public School District 10 changed publishers for their national norm-referenced standardized test. In 1998, the Stanford Achievement Test replaced the California Achievement Test. The results of the past two years are reflected in the tables below.

Grade: 6-8 Test:

Stanford Achievement Test

Edition/publication year: 9^th Edition/1995

Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company

Number excluded:1999 — 9, 1998 — 5
Percent excluded:1999 — 10%, 1999 — 6%

Grade: 6Scores are reported here as:NCEs

Number excluded:1999 —9, 1998 — 4
Percent excluded:1999 — 10%, 1998 — 5%

Grade: 7Scores are reported here as:NCEs

Number excluded:1999 — 5, 1998 — 2
Percent excluded:1999 — 6%, 1998 — 2%

Grade: 8Scores are reported here as:NCEs

Grade: 6-8

Test: Illinois Goal Assessment Program

Illinois Standards Assessment Test

Edition/publication year: 1995-99

Publisher: Illinois State Board of Education

What groups were excluded from testing, why, and how were they assessed Peacock excluded two groups from general state testing. These groups were: students with disabilities whose IEP’s specified exclusion from testing and students in our English as a Second Language program (ESL) whose language proficiency limited reliable results. Beginning in 1996-97, students with limited English skills were assessed using the Illinois Measure of Annual Growth in English (IMAGE).

Average IGAP scores in reading, math, science and social studies are reported on a 0-500 scale. Average scores for writing are reported on a 6-32 scale. Percentages indicated in the chart reflect the percentage of students meeting state goals (at or above proficient) and exceeding state goals (at or above excellent). For reading, math, science and social studies, significant increases and decreases are identified with changes in scale scores of 30 points or more while in writing changes in scores of 2 or more points is considered significant.

During the 1998-99 school year, the State of Illinois utilized the Illinois Standards Assessment Test (ISAT). Assessment occurred at grade levels 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. Sixth grade was not assessed using state-designed tests in 1998-99.

The 1998 sixth grade IGAP reading scores showed a significant decline from the previous years. Following an analysis of this drop by our sixth grade team and our language arts department, additional remediation and enrichment opportunities for our sixth grade students were incorporated into the schedule. One of our language arts teachers utilized a period of 40-50 daily to work with students having difficulties with reading and reading comprehension. In addition, our before- and after-school tutorial program focused on students identified by staff in need of support. Results from the 1999 Stanford Achievement Test in sixth grade are promising, as slight reading gains have been made.