October 2, 2007 NECAP Testing Information

Dear Parents of Students in Grades 3 - 8.

Beginning on Monday, October 8, and throughout that entire week, all
grade 3 - 8 students will be taking the state assessment called the
"New England Common Assessment Program" (NECAP) in reading and
mathemtaics.  Grade 5 and 8 students will be taking the NECAP test in
writing as well.

The NECAP tests were designed to measure each child's progress in meeting Vermont's Grade Level Expectations (GLE's).  They define the knowledge and skills a student should have mastered by the end of each school year.  

The grade 3 test will measure what a student should know and be able to do after completing second grade.  The grade 4 test measures skills learned in 3rd grade, and so on.

The reading test includes short and long reading passages that are followed by several multiple choice questions, as well as one or two "constructed response" questions that require a short written answer.  

The mathematics test includes multiple choice, short answer, and constructed response questions.   

The writing test measures the children's ability to construct a variety of both short and extended writing pieces. Test results for all students should be available in
January, 2008.

The New England Common Assessment Program will be one of the important tools available to parents and educators to determine how well our school is helping students meet standards and grade level expectations.

In every assessment, scores are only as meaningful as the effort students put into the tests.  For that reason, we ask you to please encourage your child to take the tests seriously and to give his or her best effort.

You can best help your child prepare for the assessment by making sure that s/he is rested on the days the tests will be given.  As with every day, it is critical that students have a good breakfast before heading off to school and that they are here, on time, every
day testing is taking place. Thank you for supporting your child and our school during the testing period.

Respectfully,


Michele Cote        James Taffel