The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), passed into law in 2001, was designed to set high standards to insure that "no child is left behind" when it comes to educational opportunities, challenges and expectations.

The initiative mandated that beginning in 2006, all children in grades 3-8 be tested each year in math and English. Prior to this year, under the federal guidelines the state only tested students in English-language arts and math during grades 4 and 8.

The data gathered from the test results is used to determine whether schools and districts are making adequate yearly progress toward achievement goals determined by the state.

Teachers and students across the state begin testing this January. English testing will take place Jan. 9-13 for grades 3-5, and Jan. 17-20 for grades 6-8. Results from the standardized English tests should be available in August.

Standardized math testing will be held March 6-10 for grades 3-5 and March 13-17 for grades 6-8. Scores will be available in late September.

Tests run from 70 minutes to two hours and 30 minutes, depending on the grade. Test scores range from 1-4, as follows:

• Level 4 - Student has exceeded the state's expectation for achievement at that grade level

• Level 3 - Student has meet the state's expectation for achievement at that grade level

• Level 2 - Student has not met the state's expectation for achievement and may need additional help to be successful

• Level 1 - Student needs additional help to be meet the state's expectation and be successful

Parents will be mailed their children's individual test scores when they are available.

"Any child who receives a 1 or 2 will receive academic intervention services," said Frederick Marcil, associate principal for grades K-12.  "With the new 3-8 testing, we will now we have a clear picture every year of how children are progressing and how they stack up with the rest of the state," Marcil said. The new mandate doesn’t come without a price, however.

"The amount of time and resources necessary for the additional testing will put a burden on the staff and on the district financially," said Superintendent Steven Schrade. "It will result in more teachers being out of their classroom for training and scoring instead of in the classroom teaching."

Learn more about NCLB at the links below

• New State Tests Grades 6-8: What families should know
  What should you know about the new testing? See sample questions and find helpful links.

• New York State Education Department

• US Department of Education

• Learning First Alliance
  A practical Guide to Talking with Your Community About No Child Left Behind and Schools in Need of Improvement

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