Mr. Scott Nelson School Counselor Testing Coordinator Mr. Scott Nelson is the school counselor and is responsible for coordinating the testing for grades Kindergarten through 12th grade at Meadows Valley School District 11.         Parent Information on the Main Meadows Valley School Website.    Click Here for FAFSA Information Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of postsecondary education to all Americans —and its value to our society. Federal Student Aid plays a central and essential role in supporting postsecondary education by providing money for college to eligible students and families. We partner with postsecondary schools, financial institutions and others to deliver services that help students and families who are paying for college.

Click on the Idaho Department of Education or the Assessment logo to go to the official sites. Dear Parents, Beginning in 2012, all Juniors are required to take the SAT college admission test on Idaho SAT School Day, April 18th.  This is an opportunity to connect to free college planning resources, learn more about financial aid tools and explore possible majors.  We encourage you to take advantage of the SAT Online Course and sign in to My College Quick Start if you have taken the PSAT. Also, I want to update you on the state and federal government mandates for assessment of all public school students. You may be familiar with the Idaho Standards Achievement Test or ISAT, which Idaho students have been required to take each year beginning in 3rd grade.  Once again, Meadows Valley achieved AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) in the 2010-2011 school year.  This is a  significant achievement and worth celebrating.  Students are required to score a "proficient" in Reading, Language Usage and Mathematics on the ISAT as a state graduation requirement. Beginning in the spring of their sophomore year, students taking the ISAT who score a "proficient" or better bank this score and are no longer are required to take the ISAT assessment.  Juniors and seniors have the opportunity to retest if they scored below the required "proficiency" level.  Again, they must be profcient in order to graduate.  Special education students may have a different set of mandates for graduation that vary on a case-to-case basis.                                                                                                               Sincerely,                                                                    Mr. Nelson   Assessment (Testing) Information The Division of Assessment of the Idaho State Department of Education’s purpose is to measure and improve student achievement, identify areas needing intervention, remediation or acceleration, inform parents and guardians about their child's progress, provide comparative local, state and national data regarding the achievement of students in essential skill areas, identify performance trends in student achievement across grade levels tested and student growth over time, and help to determine the technical assistance and consultation priorities for the State Department of Education.    ISAT Report Card for 2009-10 Attention Juniors & Seniors! You are invited to visit the Career Information System CIS website created in cooperation with the  Idaho Department of Education. This website provides valuable career information. Students will need to contact Mr. Nelson for the log in and password information to access the information on this website. It lists thousands of careers and the educational path necessary to get into the career, potential earnings and so much more. You may e-mail Mr. Nelson at snelson@mvsd11.org .   Click on the C.S.I. logo to go to the official website. Do not forget to request your log in and password information from Mr. Nelson

The Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) The ISAT is an important component of the statewide student assessment system. The ISAT is administered to students in grades 3rd through 8th and 10th, to provide ongoing monitoring of individual, school, district, and state progress. 9th graders take a practice test based on  the 10 grade level. One component of the ISAT, required for high school graduation, is the 10th grade test in reading, language usage, and mathematics. Proficiency on the 10th grade ISAT verifies that an Idaho student has met Idaho standards in reading, language usage, and mathematics. Academic proficiency is more than test scores. Competency in reading, language usage, mathematics, and science is the goal for every child. In accordance with No Child Left Behind, the ISAT measures proficiency in four key areas: Reading Language Usage Mathematics Science Language Arts (Reading and Language Usage) Assessments The language arts assessments of the ISAT are composed of items that address standards, goals, and objectives for grade 3-8 and 10 in two separate assessments, reading and language usage. The reading goals and objectives for each grade are distributed among two reporting categories: Reading Process and Comprehension/Interpretation. The language usage goals and objectives for each grade are distributed among two reporting categories: Writing Process and Writing Components. Mathematics Assessment The mathematics assessment of the ISAT is composed of items that address standards, goals, and objectives for grades 3-8 and 10. The goals and objectives for each grade are distributed among five reporting categories: Number and Operations; Concepts and Principles of Measurement; Concepts and Language of Algebra and Functions; Principles of Geometry; and Data Analysis, Probability, and Statistics.   Science Assessment The science assessment of the ISAT is composed of items that address standards, goals, and objectives for grades 5, 7, and 10. The goals and objectives for each grade are distributed among five reporting categories: Nature of Science, Physical Science, Biology, Earth and Space Systems, and Personal and Social Perspectives; Technology.

ISAT Event Calendar 2011 - 2012 Dates Test Includes / Notes Due 11/14/11- 12/16/11 ISAT—Fall 2011 Last week of each test window is for make-up tests only. Retesting of 11th and 12th graders only. 04/09/12- 05/10/12 ISAT—Spring 2012 Last week of each test window is for make-up tests only. Grades 3-10 will test. 9th grade pretest results are not part of AYP and will not be banked.11th and 12th grades will retest. Note: Final testing day is Thursday, May 10, 2012. 03/12/12 ISAT—Spring 2012 Management Tools opens—SEF upload begins 05/04/12 ISAT—Spring 2012 Last day to upload SEF files. Use student editor to make changes after this date. 05/31/12 ISAT—Spring 2012 Final score reports available.

          

COMPASS: College Placement Test The COMPASS test is a computer-adaptive college placement test. The purpose of the COMPASS test: To quickly evaluate incoming students' skill levels in Reading, Writing Skills, Writing Essay, Math, and ESL To place students in appropriate courses To connect them to the resources they need to achieve academic success What Is COMPASS? COMPASS is an untimed, computerized test primarily administered by community colleges for admissions and placement. It offers tests in reading, writing, math, writing essay, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Students receive their COMPASS test results immediately upon completion of testing, and their score report will include placement messages informing them of what courses should be taken and how to register. How Are COMPASS Scores Used? COMPASS is not used like a traditional test. There is generally no "passing score." Rather, COMPASS scores indicate areas in which students are strong and areas in which a student may need help.  COMPASS can identify problems in major subject areas before they disrupt a students educational progress, giving them the opportunity to prepare more effectively for needed courses. The student and their institution can use scores from COMPASS tests to prepare a course of study that will be appropriate, relevant, and meaningful to them.

ACT Testing Information: The ACT® test assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.     Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) September 10, 2011 August 12, 2011 August 13 - 26, 2011 October 22, 2011 September 16, 2011 September 17 - 30, 2011 December 10, 2011 November 11, 2011 November 12 - 18, 2011 February 11, 2012* January 13, 2012 January 14 - 20, 2012 April 14, 2012 March 9, 2012 March 10 - 23, 2012 June 9, 2012 May 4, 2012 May 5 - 18, 2012 Click Here for Information on ACT Fees Click Here for ACT Test Preparation Information

PSAT: National Merit Scholarship The Preliminary SAT Test (PSAT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also provides students a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. The PSAT/NMSQT measures: Critical reading skills Math problem-solving skills Writing skills Students have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require them to recall specific facts from their classes. The most common reasons for taking the PSAT are to: Receive feedback on strengths and weaknesses and the skills necessary for college study. Students can then focus their preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice. Students see how their performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college. Students enter a competition for scholarships from NMSC in grade 11. It helps to prepare students for the SAT. Students can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions they will see on the SAT. Students will receive information from colleges when they check "yes" to Student Search Service. The 2011 PSAT/NMSQT test dates are Wednesday, October 12 and Saturday, October 15. You must sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT at your high school or at another high school in your community. This test is administered by high schools, not through test centers. Online registration for the PSAT/NMSQT is not available. Please note that each high school chooses only one October test date. If you would like to take the PSAT/NMSQT, contact your high school counselor or principal to find out about registering for the test, paying the test fees, and learning the correct date, time, and location that your school will give the test in October. Also, contact your guidance office for a copy of the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT to help you prepare before test day.

SAT Testing Information: Nearly every college in America accepts the SAT or SAT Subject Tests as a part of its admissions process. That's why more than two million students take the SAT every year. Click Here for SAT Test Registration Deadlines and Fees                   SAT dates and deadlines    Test Dates        Test               Registration Deadlines Regular Late (a fee applies) October 1, 2011 SAT & Subject Tests September 9, 2011 September 21, 2011 November 5, 2011 SAT & Subject Tests October 7, 2011 October 21, 2011 December 3, 2011 SAT & Subject Tests November 8, 2011 November 20, 2011 January 28, 2012 SAT & Subject Tests December 30, 2011 January 13, 2012 March 10, 2012 SAT only February 10, 2012 February 24, 2012 May 5, 2012 SAT & Subject Tests April 6, 2012 April 20, 2012 June 2, 2012 SAT & Subject Tests May 8, 2012 May 22, 2012 Click Here for More Information on College Board Tests