Support Services & Standardized Testing at Aidan

Standardized testing for our 3rd-6th Year students starts on October 4! Aidan will conduct student assessments from October 4-14, following the schedule outlined below. This year we will be using the MAP Growth assessments. Learn more about these assessments by viewing the MAP Growth Family Toolkit and/or Student Resources for MAP. To hear a bit more about student assessments at Aidan this year, click the video at the bottom of this email to watch September's EPIC (Elementary Parent Information Class).

As a reminder, standardized testing is offered twice a year at Aidan, in the Fall and Spring. Standardized testing is optional at Aidan, and you may opt your child out of testing by responding to this email. However, testing can be very beneficial for your child and helps the school identify areas where your child may need more support. In addition, these assessments help Aidan track your child's growth from year to year.

We recognize that standardized testing can be seen in a negative light. Help us make this a positive experience for your child by encouraging them to try their best and get a good night's sleep before their scheduled assessments. Remember: there is no failure in these assessments. 

Your student should not feel rushed nor stressed about the results of the tests. The average time to take a test is 55 minutes. During the assessment, students may take breaks, pause their test session, or finish on another day. Missed assessments will be rescheduled on a make-up day. Results from testing will be sent to families by the end of October or beginning of November once the Learning Specialist and teachers have an opportunity to review them. 

Schedule for Student Testing

• October 4: Sweet Gum reading & math assessments
• October 5: Sweet Gum reading & math assessments
• October 6: Make-up day
• October 11: Magnolia & Red Oak reading & math assessments
• October 12: Make-up day
• October 13: Magnolia & Red Oak reading & math assessments
• October 14: Make-up day 

Student Testing Quick Facts & Reminders

• Students will only take one test a day.
• The week before testing, students will discuss the test and be able to see a practice test. 
• Tests are adaptive.
• No two tests are the same. 
• The test is not too easy where a student is bored or too hard for the student where the student gets frustrated. 
• The test can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes to complete. The average time is around 55 minutes. 
• There is not a set number of questions that may be asked, but there is a maximum of 43 questions. 
• Results are produced as soon as a test is completed, but please give the learning specialist up to three weeks after the test to share results. 
• Results are only shared with the learning specialists, teachers, and parents. 
• Results are NOT published on a student’s record. 
• If an outside organization is requesting testing data, a parent must approve of the documents before they are released. 

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. 

Kindly, 

Olivia Bartley, Learning Support Specialist