Advanced Learning Testing Process
When and Where Will Testing Take Place?
Test dates are held on Saturdays in January – March. Dates are assigned by school. Test locations and exact date(s) of testing are determined by the number of applications received. Parents will receive an email with test details by the end of December. Please make every effort to have your child attend the date(s) assigned to him/her. If you have a conflict with the date(s) or your child is sick on the day of the testing or the night before, please email advancedlearning@bsd405.org with your child’s name, grade, the test location and date(s). If there are extenuating circumstances, we may be able to reschedule your child. Illness will not be considered a valid reason for appeal.
Due to COVID-19, start and end times will be staggered by grade level. Times listed below may vary.
Testing sessions are scheduled in the following manner:
Grade | BSD Student | Private/Home-School Student |
---|---|---|
1 | Tests will be administered on two half days.
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2 – 8 | Tests will be administered on one day.
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9 – 11 | Tests will be administered on one day.
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PLEASE NOTE: If your child is attending BSD on an inter-district transfer and is identified as in need of advanced learning, services are only provided through differentiation in the current school setting for which that transfer applies.
In order to preserve the confidentiality of the assessment instruments and the validity of students’ test results, tests are only provided in person. Test events are subject to change if health conditions dictate the closure of school buildings.
Winter Testing Dates
In-District Students:
GRADES | DATE | CogAT | STAR | IOWA |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | March 6, 2021 March 20, 2021 April 3, 2021 Students will attend 2 of the 3 dates listed above. |
AM | PM | |
2 – 4 | March 6, 2021 OR March 20, 2021 OR April 3, 2021 Students will attend 1 of the 3 dates listed above. |
AM | PM | |
5 | The identification process for 5th grade students is changing to include screening and then testing, with an anticipated test date of April 3, 2021. Families of students who meet the screening requirements will be notified and invited for testing. There is no need for parents of 5th graders to apply as all BSD 5th graders will be screened for testing. | |||
6 – 8 | May 1, 2021 | AM | PM | |
9 – 11 | May 1, 2021 | AM | PM |
BSD In-District test results will be available:
- Grades 1 – 5, will be available mid May.
- Grades 6 – 11, will be available early June.
Private/Home-School Students:
GRADES | DATE | CogAT | STAR | IOWA |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | February 6, 2021 | AM | ||
1 | February 10, 2021 | PM | ||
2 – 4 | February 6, 2021 | AM | PM | |
5 | Parents who apply will be sent a document that must be completed and returned by their child’s current teacher directly to the BSD Advanced Learning Office via email. Students who meet the screening criteria will be invited to participate in testing on April 3, 2021. | |||
6 – 8 | February 6, 2021 | AM | PM | |
9 – 11 | February 6, 2021 | AM | PM |
Private/Home-School test results, grades 1 – 11, will be available early April.
What tests do you use for placement?
The CogAT measures how students process information to reach a solution, and results are based upon each student’s level of cognitive development. Questions require reasoning skills and are not academic in nature. The STAR Assessments and Iowa Assesments measure skills that are taught and practiced in school.
CogAT 7 Testing Level
Listed below is the test level that we use for your child’s current grade (testing in December/January) or for the grade that your child just completed (testing in July). Please note that the table below represents a test level one grade level above the grade of enrollment. Each subtest is timed at 10 minutes for students in grades 2 – 11.
Grade | Level | Method |
---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Teacher read, paced* *up to 15 minutes each subtest |
2 | 9 | Student read, timed |
3 | 10 | Student read, timed |
4 | 11 | Student read, timed |
5 | 12 | Student read, timed |
6 | 13 | Student read, timed |
7 | 14 | Student read, timed |
8 | 15 | Student read, timed |
9 | 16 | Student read, timed |
10 | 17 | Student read, timed |
11 | 18 | Student read, timed |
CogAT Form 7 Batteries
Battery | Subtests |
---|---|
Verbal | Picture/Verbal Analogies Sentence Completion Picture/Verbal Classification |
Quantitative | Number Analogies Number Series Number Puzzles |
Nonverbal | Figure Matrices Figure Classifications Paper Folding |
STAR Testing Level
The STAR is administered at grade level, because it is adaptive, thus moving students to higher level questions based upon successful completion of grade level questions.
PLEASE NOTE: BSD students in grades 3 – 8 take STAR Reading in the Fall and Spring of each year. Elementary teachers may opt to provide the STAR Math Assessments as well. Advanced Learning collects score data from the three most recent STAR test events, if available. The STAR Reading and Math Assessments will be administered to BSD 1 – 8 graders and private/home-school students on their assigned test date as well.
Iowa Testing Level
Listed below is the test level that we use for your child’s current grade (testing in December/January) or for the grade that your child just completed (testing in July). Please note that the table below represents a test level one grade level above the grade of enrollment.
Grade | Level | Method |
---|---|---|
9 | 16 | Student read, timed |
10 | 17 | Student read, timed |
11 | 18 | Student read, timed |
How do I appeal my child’s test results?
Appeals must be based upon one of the following conditions:
Specific criteria related to the testing conditions
Misapplication or miscalculation of the scores
Advanced Learning Department assessment criteria is applied equitably to all applicants. For students not meeting the entrance criteria, appeals for further consideration can be made.
Appeals must be based upon one of the following two reasons listed to the left. If you believe one of these conditions applies to your child, you will need to submit an appeals form within ten days of receiving results. Illness will not be considered a valid reason for appeal.
BSD utilizes an equitable identification process, therefore private IQ test results will not be considered.
Appeals are reviewed by an Appeals Committee that consists of the Department Administrator, Psychologist, Principal, and Teacher. All submitted documents are closely and carefully reviewed. The Appeals Committee may request teacher input. The Committee is looking for evidence that the results of the testing are not a true representation of the child’s abilities. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.
Appeals for K-1
The assessments collected for all K and new first grade students are part of the screening process. These assessments (observation, TRC, classroom data, DIBELS and the WAKids State Assessments) were administered to all K and new first grade students to determine their educational needs, and the results are utilized to determine if there is a need for further testing and possible inclusion in advanced learning services. Appeals for K-1 services are only valid after further testing has been conducted and reviewed by the multi-disciplinary team, and a decision regarding services has been rendered.