Clarke Community Schools
802 N JACKSON • OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213
PHONE: 641-342-4969 • FAX: 641-342-6101
Steve Seid, Superintendent of Schools
March 20, 2019
Dear Clarke Parent,
Per legislation passed by the Iowa Legislature, this year, the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) replaces the Iowa Assessments as the accountability test for all Iowa students. Students will be assessed in the following areas:
Mathematics (grades 3-11)
Reading (grades 3-11)
Writing (grades 3-11)
Science (grades 5, 8, and 10)
This assessment differs from the Iowa Assessments in several important ways: (1) the test will be administered online; (2) the test will not be timed; and (3) the test will require students to answer a wide variety of questions including multiple choice, short answer, fill in the blank, and equation writing, among others.
All 3rd-11th grade teachers have received training on testing protocols, test taking strategies, the types of test questions students may encounter and the online tools that will be available to all students. We have instructed teachers to teach students about these topics, including giving them an opportunity to practice with the tools and to work through practice tests.
We will be testing the week of March 25th. You can help your student be successful on these assessments in the following ways:
Ensure they get a good night’s sleep each night
Provide them with a healthy breakfast each morning
Have your student wear comfortable clothing to school
Get your student to school on time
Encourage your student to do his or her best and assure them that they have the tools and knowledge they need to be successful
Because this is the first year the ISASP is being administered, test results will not be made available to us until, tentatively, late September. We will share these results with you after we receive them. After this year, test results will be made available to us in a timelier manner.
If you have any questions about this assessment, contact your building principal. Thank you for being fierce supporters of your children! We appreciate all you do to ensure they come to school ready to learn.
Sincerely,
Jean Bahls
Curriculum Director/Equity Coordinator
Clarke Community School District