Elementary and Secondary Education Our curriculum department is divided in two areas, elementary and secondary. The two departments work closely together to align the curriculum throughout grades K-12.
Bonnie Maxwell, Assistant to the Elementary & Secondary Directors Ms. Maxwell assists the Curriculum & Technology Offices in the overall operation of their department.
ISAT stands for the Idaho Standards Achievement Tests. The tests are given in grades 2-10. The ISAT consists of three multiple-choice tests in the core subjects of reading, math and language usage. The ISAT is offered in the fall and spring of each academic year allowing teachers to track student achievement. Students take the test on a computer. The tests are not timed, but students usually take 45-60 minutes per test. New ISAT Cut Scores In July 2006, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), the Office of the State Board of Education, and the State Department of Education facilitated the Achievement Standards Setting process for grades 3-8 and 10. During this session, thirty-seven Idaho math and reading teachers reviewed Spring 2006 ISAT forms and used descriptions of expected student achievement to determine new Achievement Standards. Rounds of discussions to hone rationale and appropriateness of decisions were vital to making the process valid.
Grades 2 and 9 are fully adaptive tests in the fall and spring. Grades 3-8 and 10 are on-grade level fixed-form tests for the spring administration. Methods for setting Achievement Standards require a fixed-form test. Therefore, the Achievement Standards could be set only for grades 3-8 and 10 at this time. The new Achievement Standards were then presented to the Idaho State Board of Education at their August meeting. Math and Reading scores were approved and are now in effect. The ISAT website (http://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/saa/proficiency.asp) includes the new Achievement Standards and the phase-in scores for the class of 2007.
The Phase-In Rule applies to the new Achievement Standards. Therefore, the 2007 graduating class is subject to a three-point phase-in for the graduation requirements. Using the new Achievement Standards, students graduating in 2007 will need to achieve a score of 238 in math (previously 239) and a score of 216 in reading (previously 221).
There is no Phase-In rule for the graduating class of 2008. Students graduating in 2008 will need to achieve the new Achievement Standards of 241 in math and 219 in reading. Language Usage Language Usage Achievement Standards have not changed since being established in 2003. Those scores will be reviewed at a future date. Science Science Achievement Standards have not been established. The science scores will also be established at a future date. Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) will be offering a science test as part of their field test in December 2006. At this time, the science test is neither a graduation requirement nor a part of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) calculations.
