The following information was obtained from the booklet "Your Child and Standardized Test" by the Channing Bete Company, South Deerfield, MA www.channing-bete.com 

 Your child and Standardized Tests Grades 3-5

Standardized tests are a key part of education reform---improving schools. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a federal lay designed to help raise student performance in kindergarten through grade 12. It requires states to use federal funds to improve education as needed. The No Child Left Behind Act: Makes schools more accountable. It requires states to give standardized tests in all public schools. Test results from a school serve as a "report card" of the school's strengths and weaknesses. Some states already give yearly test. Others test every few years. Under No Child Left Behind, every student in the nation (after fall 2005) will be tested in math and in reading or language arts: each year in grade 3-8, at least once during grades 10-12. The law also calls for science tests by fall 2007--at least once during grades 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12. Also each state to define its academic expectations. These include: the skills and subjects taught in different grades, how well that state expects students to perform. Increases local control. State and local decision-makers have more control over how they use federal education dollars. Promotes proven teaching methods. Scientific research has shown that some teaching methods are more effective than others. No Child Left Behind encourages schools to use more effective methods in the classroom. It makes funds available to help teachers learn these methods. Gives parents more options. Standardized test help show parents how well their child's school is teaching children. If a school repeatedly fails to make yearly progress or perform up to expectations, a child may be able to: receive tutoring, after-school educational programs or other services, or transfer to another school.  "Standardized" means that the test a state uses is taken by every child in the same way. By using the same test in all public schools, the test becomes a uniform--or standard--measure of performance throughout the state.

Each sate decides which test to use. While No Child Left Behind requires annual testing in all states by the fall of 2005, children in different states may be given different tests. Tests must reflect a state's requirements for: *Subjects and skills that students are expected to know (academic content). *How well students are expected to perform in each area (standards of achievement). States may choose to measure performance through additional standardized tests in writing, history, geography or other subjects. Some states purchase tests from national test publishers. These tests go by different names. They used to be mainly multiple-choice tests, but may now include short-answer or essay questions. Many states develop their own tests--these are more likely to include short-answer and essay questions along with multiple-choice questions. These tests may also include questions about the state itself, such as its history, wildlife, climate or culture. You can learn more about the tests your state uses from your child's teacher or school, or your state education department.

Parents and guardians have important rights regarding standardized test. Under No Child Left Behind, you have the right to receive: Fair and equal treatment for your child. Schools cannot have different passing scores for students based on income group, gender, ethnicity, race, migrant status or disability. Schools must also make "reasonable accommodations" for testing: *students who speak English as a second language, they may be given tests in their native language. Students who have been in the U.S. for 3 years or more, however, will be given reading and language arts tests in English. *Students with disabilities. Some examples of accommodations include being allowed to use a computer, use a hearing device, take a test in a small group or take the test in Braille. Test results for your state, school district and school. Each year, you should receive a state report card and a local report card. Student performance is broken down into three levels: basic, proficient and advanced. These results are further broken down by: race, ethnicity, gender, proficiency in English language, migrant status, disability status, low-income status. This breakdown helps schools make sure no group of children is "left behind." The state report card includes 2-year trends for tests by grade and subject, how well school districts performed and other details. The local report card presents test results from  each school in the district and notes any schools identified as needing help. Test results for your child. Individual test results are private--no child is identified on state or local report cards or in information given to the media. Only you and your child's school receive the results of your child's test. As a parent, you have the right to access your child's academic files. Whatever the results, keep this in mind: It's just one test! And it's a test designed to measure how well a group of students is doing. A single test can't possibly measure how smart your child is, or everything your child knows or can do.

Knowing how to take tests is a skill, too! Many wrong answers on tests happen because children make mistakes in the test-taking process. Teach your child that it is OK to: *Look back to reread a passage while answering questions about it. *Read the questions about a passage first--before reading the passage itself. *Use facts other than those given on the test to figure out answers--children sometimes think they have to limit themselves to the information on the test. Other common mistakes include: *Not following directions--rushing through directions to get started causes errors that could easily be prevented! *Filling in answer sheets incorrectly--for example, some students circle the answer bubbles or put checkmarks inside them, instead of filling them in. *Not reading every answer to a multiple-choice problem before picking one. Children often choose the first answer that seems "close," but another answer may be the better one. *Not using the process of elimination to narrow down a list of possible answers. *Spending too much time on one question--it's important to answer as many questions as possible in the time allowed. Getting "stuck" on one question means other (and easier) questions may never be tackled! *Not going back to reread questions or check answers, if there is extra time. Some test-taking tips. Children will be less likely to make mistake when they know how to approach a test. Encourage your child to keep these tips in mind: *Listen carefully to spoken directions. It's OK to ask questions at this time if you're not sure what to do. Reading through the written directions. Don't answer any problems until you are sure you understand the directions! Read them more than once, if necessary. Glance through the problems. Notice which ones may be more difficult than others. Use this information to plan your time. Read all the questions or problems. Do the easiest one first. Then go back to do the harder ones. Don't spend a lot of time on one problem. If you get stuck, move on--and come back to it if you have time. Read the entire question or problem. Skipping over words like "never" or "not" can lead to wrong answers. Look at any pictures. They may provide clues that will help you solve the problem. Go back and check answers. When you've answered all the questions, check your answers if you have time.

Help reduce test anxiety. Test anxiety is common--in children and adults! During a test (and even before one), students may: *feel panic, *draw a blank--and forget what they've learned, *have shaky hands or sweaty palms, *breathe rapidly, *have headaches, *have stomach cramps, *need to go to the bathroom a lot. Standardized tests can cause a lot of anxiety. That's because students may: *feel pressure from parents--especially if test results will be used to place students in school. *worry about disappointing teachers--who may worry about how test results will affect their school *find their familiar classroom has changed--with desks lined up in rows instead of arranged in circles or work groups. *feel ill at ease in a classroom that is much quieter than usual, or is one they've never seen before. *be watched by teachers they don't know (their own teacher may not be in the room).

How parents can help. Keep practice times pleasant. If you get sample tests from the school, don't have your child practice them between activities he or she dislikes. Teach your child to ease an anxious mind and body. For example, during a test, your child can: *silently count backward from 10, *take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds and slowly let it out (repeat 4-5 times). *tense and relax tight muscles, *imagine being in a peaceful place. Be positive! Show confidence in your child! Try to balance "it's only a test" with "I want you to take this test seriously." Tell your child that the most important thing is to give his or her best effort---if he or she does this, you will be proud of your child whatever the results. The night  before the test. Spend a pleasant evening. Don't spend a lot of time talking about the test. And don't let your child "cram" for it! Do something enjoyable but not tiring, such as playing a game or watching a funny video. To avoid a big rush the next morning, have your child set out any test items and clothing he or she will need for the following day. Follow the usual bedtime routine. Even though you may have heard otherwise, do not make your child go to bed early. You may end up with a child lying wide awake and anxious in the dark. The day of the test. Only give medications that your child usually takes. Cold medicines and other over-the-counter products could make your child groggy or drowsy. Encourage your child to wear comfortable clothes. Provide a healthy breakfast. But don't make it extra large or sugary. That could slow digestion, making your child feel sleepy or tired during the test. Stay calm the morning of the test. Does your child have everything he or she needs?

So how did it go? It can be months before parents learn the results of standardized tests. If your child comes home after a test convinced he or she "blew it," be reassuring. If the results concern you once they arrive, meet with your child's teacher to get a more balanced picture of how well your child is learning.