DVS Assessment - NECAP Preparation

Overview

“We believe that the best way to prepare for state assessments is by continuing to engage students in rigorous instructional practices that are aligned to grade level standards and supported by assessments that are connected to ongoing class work and projects.” [Tim Kurtz, NH DOE]

Introduction

Standardized tests have become an integral part of schooling these days. The NECAP is designed to measure individual student achievement relative to the NECAP Grade Level Expectations. The results will be used by parents, teachers, and schools as one measure of student learning. The state uses the results to report student achievement to the public.

The NECAP Assessment

The New Hampshire Department of Education, Rhode Island Department of Education, and Vermont Department of Education developed a common set of Grade-Level Expectations, known as the New England Common Assessment Program Grade-Level Expectations (NECAP GLEs), and test specifications in Mathematics, Reading, and Writing.

It is a “common” assessment program because the tests were developed in collaboration between the three states, and are given to students in all three states during the same three-week period each year.

These expectations were developed in response to the requirements of the federally mandated No Child Left Behind Act, 2001 to test all students, beginning in the 2005-2006 academic year, in each of grades 3-8 in mathematics and reading/language arts.

The NECAP tests were designed to measure New Hampshire’s new Grade Level Expectations, or GLEs. The GLEs define the knowledge and skills a student should have mastered by the end of each school year. The grade 3 test, for example, will measure what a student should know and be able to do after completing second grade, the grade 4 tests will measure end of grade 3 skills, the grade 5 test will measure end of grade 4 skills, and so on.

The NECAP Assessment includes the following types of items:

These prompts are both stand alone and text based.

How to Prepare For the NECAP

The best way to prepare students is to continue teaching an instructionally rich curriculum. It is important that you help students understand what will be expected of them on the assessment. To help with this, a practice test for each content area assessed at each grade level is available on the NH DOE website.

Additionally,

  1. An understanding of the GLEs and their application in all classrooms in curriculum, instruction and assessment is important preparation for teachers.
  2. There is a GLE CD that was sent to each school and copies were made for staff for the 2007-2008 school year. If you are new to the school it is wise to seek out this CD.
  3. Make use of web-based materials on the .

The best way to prepare parents is to inform them about the dates of the test administration and your expectations about what they can do to support the success of their students on the test. It is important to let parents know that the data generated by the State test allows schools to make informed decisions about curriculum and instruction.

Read more at Standardized Test Preparation

Q. Why doesn’t the Department develop a NECAP Practice Test?

In fact, they have. In collaboration with Vermont and Rhode Island a practice test for each grade level has been developed. This “mini” version of NECAP will allow students to become familiar with the format of the test and the administration of a standardized test.

Q. What about commercially produced products?

Recently, a set of materials that is being marketed as “test prep for NECAP” was brought to our attention. Grade and content specific books of test items can be bought with the promise of helping students perform better on NECAP tests. Please be aware that Rhode Island , New Hampshire, and Vermont have not written, reviewed, or endorsed any set of commercially available materials. They have produced GLE and assessment support materials for reading, mathematics, and writing. All of these materials are accessible through the Department website (at no cost to districts!). In addition, a percentage of the common items are released from previous NECAP assessments together with student work samples that illustrate each score point.

NECAP Support Materials

The NH Department of Education has posted a great deal of NECAP Support Material and Released Items on their website that can be accessed to plan your review of standards taught.

Check out this very cool NWEA resource Boise Schools ISAT Sample Questions. Sign out the laptop computers and integrate this awesome resource into your 4 Blocks or 4 Frames schedule.