March 1, 2016
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which was signed into law last December, maintains the requirement that states administer annual tests in reading and mathematics to students in grades 3-8 and 11 and in science in grades 5, 8, and 11. Therefore, beginning this month, students in grades 3-8 will take the eMPowerME reading and math assessment developed by Measured Progress. Students in grade 11 will again take the SAT, as they did in the years prior to the 2014-2015 school year.
The Gorham School Department continues to believe that standardized tests play an important role in education. They provide an objective measure of the degree to which we are preparing our students for their future, including post-secondary education and the workforce. They also enable us to identify areas of strength and areas for growth within our schools and among groups of students so that we can make adjustments in curriculum and instruction, as well as in supports that will benefit our students.
eMPowerME offers several additional benefits. It is much shorter than prior year assessments, so less instructional time is sacrificed. It is taken on the computer, which means students get their scores back faster. Finally, it is designed to provide subscores, which increases its value as a diagnostic tool to help improve student achievement.
The testing window for eMPowerME is March 21st through April 15th. While we encourage students to try their hardest and do their best, we also recognize that any assessment is an in-the-moment snapshot and not the final word on a student’s understanding or skill. That said, a good night’s sleep and healthy breakfast will go a long way toward ensuring a positive experience and outcome, and we appreciate your support in this regard.
Feel free to contact me, your child’s principal or teacher if you have any questions about the upcoming assessments.
Sincerely,
Cathy Stankard
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
