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, If you have a student who is currently in junior or senior high school, you are aware that each year the state and federal government mandates assessments 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.  Students are required to score a "proficient" in reading, language usage, 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 take the test again if they scored below the required "proficiency" level in the four areas.  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.  Please read the ISAT state testing information. I will be providing announcements for testing dates and times on the Parent Information web page on the Meadows Valley Main website. Please check it throughout the year.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me at 208-347-2411.  Thank you for your time.                                                                                                              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! Mr. Scott Nelson would like to invite all Juniors and Seniors to visit the Career Information System C.S.I. website created by the Idaho Department of Education. This website provides valuable career information. Students will need to contact Ms. Pope 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 (I.S.A.T.) 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. 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 2010-11   Dates Test Includes / Notes Due 04/12/10—05/14/10 ISAT—Spring 2010 Last week of each test window is for make-up tests only. Grades 3-10 will test. 9th grade results are not part of AYP and will not be banked. 9th grade will not take Science. 11th and 12th grades will retest. 03/15/10 ISAT—Spring 2010 Management Tools opens—SEF upload begins 05/07/10 ISAT—Spring 2010 Last day to upload SEF files. Use student editor to make changes after this date. 06/04/10 ISAT—Spring 2010 Final score reports available. 11/15/10-12/17/10 ISAT—Fall 2010 Last week of each test window is for make-up tests only. Retesting of 11th and 12th graders only. 04/11/11—05/13/11 ISAT—Spring 2011 Last week of each test window is for make-up tests only. Grades 3-10 test, with 11th and 12th grades retesting.

          

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 that helps colleges evaluate a students skills to help place them into appropriate courses. COMPASS 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 11, 2010* August 6, 2010 August 7 – 20, 2010 October 23, 2010 September 17, 2010 September 18 – October 1, 2010 December 11, 2010 November 5, 2010 November 6 – 19, 2010 February 12, 2011** January 7, 2011 January 8 – 21, 2011 April 9, 2011 March 4, 2011 March 5 – 18, 2011 June 11, 2011 May 6, 2011 May 7 – 20, 2011 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 ISAT Test Registration Deadlines and Fees SAT Date Register-By Date Late Registration Changes By Mail Phone/ Online Oct 9th 2010 SAT Test Dates Sep 10 2010 Sep 24 2010 Sep 24 2010   Sept 22, 2010 Nov 6th 2010 SAT Test Dates Oct 8 2010 Oct 22 2010 Oct 22 2010 Oct 20, 2010 Dec 4th 2010 SAT Test Dates Nov 5 2010 Nov 19 2010 Nov 19 2010 Nov 17, 2010 Jan 22nd 2011 SAT Test Dates Dec 23 2010 Jan 7 2011 Jan 7 2011 Jan 5, 2011 Mar 12th 2011 SAT Test Dates Feb 11 2011 Feb 25 2011 Feb 25 2011 Feb 23, 2011 May 7th 2011 SAT Test Dates Apr 8 2011 Apr 22 2011 Apr 22 2011 Apr 20, 2011 Jun 4th 2011 SAT Test Dates May 6 2011 May 20 2011 May 20 2011 May 18, 2010 Click Here for More Information on College Board Tests