Individual Assessment Index
IAI is a computerized assessment of student progress in mastering basic skills in reading and mathematics. The assessment has been designed to assess the essential skills of the Tennessee State Standards. The assessments help teachers to know how to help each student learn and grow by determining where each student is performing academically.  IAI assessments will be taken on a computer by students in grades two through seven and/or up through Algebra I.  The difficulty of each test question is based on how well the student has answered the previous question. As the student answers correctly, the questions become more difficult.  If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become less difficult.  The computer program instantly analyzes the student’s response to each question and determines the appropriate difficulty level to present throughout the remainder of the test. In essence, the computer builds an assessment that is just right for each student. Instead of the child adjusting to a test, the test adjusts to the child.  Thus, each child is appropriately challenged at his or her instructional level.

The scores from the IAI are used to measure a student’s growth in reading and mathematics.  The growth of the student in these areas is measured from fall to spring. For example, if a student obtained a RIT score of 190 on the fall math test and a RIT score of 199 on the spring test, the student progressed 9 RIT points.  Parents and teachers will be able to chart a student’s progress from one year to another. When you look at the test results, it will become apparent that certain goal areas are progressing well and others need more attention. Using the class and individual test reports, school personnel can use the results, along with other classroom data, to design instruction that better meets the individual needs their students in reading, and mathematics. The goal of the assessment system in Williamson County is to improve student achievement. http://www.nwea.org/products/LearningContinuum.htm

 TCAP Achievement Test
Each spring students in grades 2-8 take an achievement test, known as the Terra Nova, as part of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). The primary aim of the TCAP Achievement Test is to provide an accurate measure of academic basic skills in reading, vocabulary, language, language mechanics, mathematics, mathematics computation, science, social studies, spelling and word analysis. Content knowledge in these subject areas is assessed as well as the application of such knowledge. The TCAP Achievement Test uses multiple choice questions and has set time limits. There is no passing or failing grade on the test. These tests allow district and student achievement to be compared with the performance of other students in the nation, and also tell how well students are mastering skills in these subjects. The national average on the chart above is 50%. http://www.state.tn.us/education/tsachhome.htm

TCAP Writing Assessment
The writing assessment at these grade levels is designed to measure writing skills that have been learned cumulatively from the current year as well as past schooling years. The TCAP Writing Assessment requires students to compose essays in response to a specified prompt within a designated time. Fifth-grade students are asked to compose a narrative essay, eighth-grade students an expository essay, and eleventh-grade students a persuasive essay. The writing samples are scored holistically.
http://www.state.tn.us/education/tswriting.htm

District Writing Assessment  
The district office creates writing prompts which are administered in September, February and May so that   student writing samples can be assessed to identify instructional targets for writing throughout the year in grades K-12. 

Gateway
On October 29, 1998 in compliance with TCA 49-1-608 and TCA 49-6-6001(a)(1), the State Board of Education designated ten high school courses for the development of End-of-Course examinations. Three of these courses, Algebra I (also for Math for Technology II students), English II, and Biology I (also for Biology for Technology I students), were stipulated as diploma requirements and became known as Gateway Tests. These tests will serve two purposes, one as an End-of-Course test for the student when they are enrolled in the course, and two as the diploma requirement.
http://www.state.tn.us/education/tsgateway.htm

EOC
On October 29, 1998, in compliance with TCA 49-1-608 and TCA 49-6-6001(a)(1), the State Board of Education designated ten high school courses for the development of End-of-Course examinations. The Select Oversight Committee on Education of the Tennessee General Assembly subsequently affirmed the State Board’s recommendation.
http://www.state.tn.us/education/tshssmt.htm

EXPLORE
EXPLORE is an assessment that is ultimately linked to ACT.  It is designed to provide students, parents, counselors, and teachers with information to help students prepare successfully for their futures.  Components of the test include:  Career Exploration and Planning, High School Course Selection information, Academic skill reports and ideas for preparing for the student’s future.
http://www.act.org/explore/index.html

CCA
According to Board Policy 4.7001 (formerly “IHAA” adopted 4/21/03), the Curriculum Department facilitates the development and administration of Common Comprehensive Assessments for all core academic high school courses without a state end-of-course test, and for all high school courses offered in our middle schools.  Teacher input and feedback is used each year to modify and refine these tests which are given as the student’s final exam at the end of the course.  All CCAs are aligned with the state curriculum standards and performance indicators available for all subjects through the following link.
http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/cicurassessedstandards.htm

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