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BENCHMARKING

RATIONALE

Successful school districts across the nation routinely assess student performance and collect performance data throughout the instructional year rather than wait for end-of-year state-mandated test results to determine academic progress.  Benchmark Assessments are valid standards-based assessments administered to Austin ISD students three times per year.  Results of the district’s benchmark assessments can be used to determine student growth and performance as it relates to state and federal expectations for student achievement. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of the benchmark assessments is to provide one measure to inform the following processes:

Other measures and indicators at the classroom, campus, and district levels also provide information to support these key processes. Benchmark assessments are designed as an instructional improvement tool, not an evaluative tool. TAKS test results are the evaluative tools for the statewide accountability system.

PROCESS

Students in grades 2-11 will participate in the AISD benchmark assessment process in the 2009-10 school year.  Students will take a beginning of year (BoY) assessment(s) to provide diagnostic information for instruction. Students will take middle of year (MoY) assessment(s) to provide information about student progress on all TAKS skills.  Students will take and end-of-year (EoY) assessment(s) to provide summative mastery information only in the subjects and/or grades where no TAKS test is administered.

BENCHMARK ASSESSSMENT WINDOW

Using the Lexmark benchmark scanner at your campus, it is very important that all benchmark tests are administered and scanned into AIMS by the deadline date indicated on the 09-10 assessment calendar.  Prior to scanning, please make sure your student’s bubble sheets have been appropriately completed (including the Test ID and teacher scoring of composition, open-ended, and gridded items).  Once documents have been scanned and uploaded to the district servers, you are also responsible for correcting any student test errors within AIMS in the area called “Web Editing".

TRAINING RESOURCES

A series of brief 1-4 minute training videos are available for download on the Curriculum web site to help you better understand each step of the benchmarking, scanning, error correction and data retrieval process.  Supporting printer-friendly documents are also available to assist you.  For additional support, contact the benchmark representative at your campus.  For assistance with technology information in general, visit the AISD techinfo site for links to district technology information and instructional resources.