Fresno Unified

Board Policy

BP 6162.5

Instruction

Student Assessment

The Governing Board believes that the primary purpose of student assessments should be to help students, parents/guardians and teachers identify individual students' academic strengths, weaknesses and progress in order to improve teaching and learning. Assessments should also serve to determine the effectiveness of the schools and the district as measured by students' knowledge of fundamental skills and their ability to apply those skills.

The Board recognizes that a variety of evaluation measures are needed in order to reach the above goals. A single test or testing method cannot be expected to always take ethnic, cultural or gender differences into account or to conclusively identify the academic strengths and weaknesses of each student. To have validity, tests must correspond to the material that is being taught and measure the extent to which students meet clearly specified standards of achievement.

(cf. 0410 ­ Nondiscrimination)

(cf. 5121 ­ Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)

(cf. 6190 ­ Evaluation of the Instructional Program)

When districtwide and school­level results of student assessments are published, the Superintendent or designee may provide supplementary information to assist the local community in interpreting test results and evaluating school performance.

(cf. 0510 ­ School Accountability Report Card)

California Assessment of Academic Achievement

The Superintendent or designee shall administer mandatory student assessments as provided by the State Board of Education to all students in grades 4, 5, 8 and 10 as required by law. (Education Code 60605, 60608)

The Superintendent or designee also shall administer achievement tests to all students in grades 2 through 10 as part of the state's student testing incentive program. The Superintendent or designee shall establish a procedure to ensure that Board members, administrators, teachers and parents/guardians are actively involved in the selection and implementation of these tests. Tests shall be selected among those approved by the State Board of Education.

The Board may meet in closed session to review the contents of any assessment approved or adopted for the statewide testing system. In order to maintain the confidentiality of the assessment under review, the Board shall first agree by resolution to accept any State Board of Education terms or conditions for that review.

(cf. 9321 ­ Closed Session Purposes and Agendas)

Upon written request by the parent/guardian, a student shall be excused from any or all parts of student assessments administered for the statewide testing system. (Education Code 60615)

Golden State Examinations

The Board believes that participation in the Golden State Examinations can motivate students to succeed in key academic courses.

The Board strongly encourages students to accept the challenge these examinations present.

The Superintendent or designee may require students in one or more selected courses to participate in the Golden State Examinations for reasons related to the curricular offerings.

School award programs may be held to recognize all students who participate in the Golden State Examinations, with special recognition for those who receive honors.

(cf. 5126 ­ Awards for Achievement)

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

51041 Evaluation of educational program

51513 Personal beliefs (re questionnaires, etc.)

60600­60652 Assessment of academic achievement

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5

4400 Concentrations of educationally disadvantaged youth

Management Resources:

CDE LEGAL ADVISORIES

0924.91 Clarification of Crawford v. Honig. LO: 2­91

CDE PROGRAM ADVISORIES

0327.86 Reporting norm­referenced standardized achievement test scores to parents


Policy FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: March 26, 1992 Fresno, California

revised: February 13, 1997


Fresno Unified

Administrative Regulation

AR 6162.5

Instruction

Student Assessment

Mandatory Statewide Assessments

Districtwide and school­level results of statewide student assessments shall be reported to the Governing Board at least once a year at a regularly scheduled Board meeting. This report shall not specify the score or relative position of individual students. (Education Code 60609)

Local Incentive Program

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the district complies with all the following conditions related to the student testing incentive program: (Education Code 60640­60641)

1. The district shall administer an achievement test approved by the State Board of Education to all students in grades 2 through 10.

2. The achievement tests shall be administered at a time of year specified by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

3. The individual results of these tests shall be reported in writing to the student's parent/guardian. This report shall include the student's score and a clear explanation of the purpose of the test and its intended use by the district.

4. The individual results of these tests shall also be reported to the student's school and teachers and included in his/her student records. They shall be further released only with the permission of the student's parent/guardian.

5. The districtwide and school­level results of these tests shall be reported to the Board at a regularly scheduled Board meeting at the same time that the results of the statewide student assessments are reported. This report shall not specify the score or relative position of individual students.

The Superintendent or designee shall certify to the Superintendent of Public Instruction the district's compliance with these conditions. (Education Code 60640­60641)

Individual Record of Accomplishment

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that each student, by the end of grade 12, has an individual record of accomplishment that includes the following: (Education Code 60607)

1. The results of academic achievement tests administered under the local student testing incentive program

2. The results of any vocational education certification examinations taken


Regulation FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

approved: February 13, 1997 Fresno, California