Standardized Testing at BPA

  • Standardized Testing at BPA- you may hear a lot about the Georgia Milestones Assessment or GMAS.  This assessment is given to all 3rd, 4th, 5th graders across the state of Georgia and measures student mastery of grade level content.  3rd and 4th graders take the GMAS each spring in the areas of English Language Arts / Reading and Mathematics.  5th graders take similar tests but also add Science and Social Studies.   

     

    CCRPI - the College and Career Readiness Performance Index is one of the ways the state of Georgia compares and rates our schools.  Schools with a score of less than 60 are often thought of as "failing schools."  BPA is proud to have earned a CCRPI score of 80.7 for 2018-2019 and we anticipate another increase for our 2019-2020 score when it is published in September or October.   

     
    Understanding Scores:
     
    The MAP assessment is administered to all APS elementary students. Students in grades kindergarten and first grade take the K-2 MAP Growth Reading and Math assessment. Students in grades 2nd through 5th grade take the 2-5 MAP Growth Reading and Math assessment. Students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade also take the MAP Reading Fluency assessment while 5th graders take the MAP Growth Science assessment.

    MAP assessments are used to measure understanding of state standards, monitor student growth throughout the year, and for students in grades 3-5, predict performance on the applicable Georgia Milestones.  In addition, MAP can help teachers determine appropriate instructional levels and skills that students are ready to learn or areas students need additional support.

    All MAP assessments are computer-adaptive tests (CATs). CATs continually adjust the difficulty of each child’s test by choosing each test question based on the child’s previous response.  If the child answers a question correctly, the difficulty level of the next item is increased.  If the child misses a question, the difficulty level is decreased. CATs save testing time and spare your child the frustration of items that are too difficult and the boredom of items that are too easy.

    BPA students in grades k-2 are also given the DIBELS assessment.

    DIBELS includes measures that help teachers and schools determine how students are performing on important reading skills. DIBELS stands for Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills. These measures are designed for students in grades K-8.

    DIBELS measures the critical skills necessary for successful beginning reading include: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

    The DIBELS assesses students on four of these five critical skills, which are often referred to as the “Big Ideas” of reading. BPA students are given the DIBELS test three times each year; this occurs in the fall, winter, and spring. We also have dedicated staff members who regularly check on the progress of students and provide extra reading help to make sure their reading skills are improving. These regular checks are called Progress Monitoring. Students who are progress monitored may complete one or two of the individual DIBELS checks as often as once a week or as little as once every 6 weeks depending on the need.

    A student’s score on the DIBELS measure gives our team information about whether or not a student is on track for success with on grade-level reading.

      

    Why is Computer Adaptive Helpful to you as a Parents?

    • Unique test matched to your child’s abilities more accurately
    • Determine next steps in the classroom
    • Provides a list of academic expectations for your child’s grade level 
    • Read with your student and discuss what you have read
    • Work closely with your child’s teachers based on results
    • Set a goal for improvement with your child

    Lastly, if you have specific questions regarding your child’s Performance Series Computer Adaptive Test results, please meet with your child’s teacher to discuss in greater detail or contact the BPA Test Coordinator, Assistant Principal, Sabrina Hayes at srhayes@atlantapublicschools.us .