Being Ready for TNReady

PREPARING FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR ASSESSMENTS

TNReady Tennessee’s goal is for all Tennessee students to be ready for the demands of college and the workforce. The State gives assessments in order to ensure that Tennessee students are on a path to success after graduation. Since 1988, students have taken the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) test to assess their progress. The State has improved the TCAP in order to better measure what Tennessee students know and can do. This new and improved TCAP assessment is called TNReady, and it will replace the math and English language arts assessments for grades 3-11.

Why TNReady?1. Develops skills that are in line with college and workforce

expectations2. Allows students to show what they know in new ways3. Provides better information for teachers and parents4. Promotes real-world problem solving

TOP 10 FACTS ABOUT TNREADY1. TNReady is designed to measure students’ real understanding of the material, not just basic memorization and test-taking skills.

2. TNReady replaces the previous math and English/language arts TCAP tests. There will be no additional state tests for English/language arts and math.

3. The results of the TNReady will provide parents and teachers with more and better information about what students know.

4. The best preparation for TNReady come from strong instruction in the classroom everyday.

5. TNReady provides students multiple ways to show what they know and can do.

TOP 10 FACTS ABOUT TNREADY6. Online practice tools are already available for teachers and students to practice using the online test format.7. Online tools will be available to every student during the test to support them as they answer questions.8. TNReady will be taken online to prepare students with technology skills they will need to succeed in post-secondary education and the workforce.9. TNReady will change over time as our math and English/language arts standards are revised and improved.10. Because of this new and different type of test, student scores will likely be impacted as Tennessee sets a new baseline for student performance.

Tested Subjects for 2015-2016 YearTNReady Math AssessmentTN Ready English Language Arts AssessmentNew Social Studies TCAP AssessmentNo Changes to Science TCAP Assessment

Math1. TNReady will assess students’ knowledge of both basic and problem-solving skills to ensure they

are prepared for success after graduation.

2. TNReady will give students and parents clear information about whether students are on track to graduate from high school and be successful in college and the workforce.

3. TNReady will replace the state’s multiple choice only test in math and will include a variety of questions.

4. TNReady will ask students to solve multi-step problems, many without using a calculator, to show what they know.

5. TNReady will be given two separate times during the school year: Part I (Feb.) and Part II (Apr.).

6. TNReady will have greater flexibility in scheduling actual test administration.

7. TNReady will be administered online to reflect the skills students need to be successful in the real world.

English Language Arts1. TNReady will assess students’ reading and writing skills together to ensure students are prepared

for success after graduation.

2. TNReady will give students and parents clear information about whether they are on track to graduate high school and be successful in college or the workplace.

3. TNReady will replace the state’s multiple-choice only test in reading and will include a variety of reading and writing questions.

4. TNReady will replace the writing assessment given each February.

5. TNReady will be given two separate times during the school year: Part I (Feb.) and Part II (Apr.).

6. TNReady will have greater flexibility in scheduling actual test administration.

7. TNReady will be administered online to reflect the skills students need to be successful in the real world.

Social Studies1. Students will take a new and improved TCAP Social Studies assessment.

2. The tests will be based on Social Studies standards implemented during the 2014-2015 school year.

3. The Social Studies TCAP will use the same online platform as the Math and English Language Arts TNReady assessments.

4. The test will be given in two different parts (February and May).

5. Similar to TNReady, the Social Studies test will include a writing portion that requires students to support their answers with evidence from a reading passage(s).

Science1. The Science TCAP will look very similar to the test given during the 2014-2015 school year.

2. It will be administered via paper and pencil spring of 2015-2016.

Timeline

MJHS State Testing Calendar Explore October 28 Explore Make-up October 29 Winter Test TN Ready RLA - Part 1 Feb 8 – 12 TN Ready Math - Part 1 Feb 16 – 19 SS - Part 1 Feb 22 – 26 Spring Test TN Ready RLA - Part 2 April 18 - 22 TN Ready Math – Part 2 April 25 – 29 Science TCAP May 4 Biology EOC May 5 SS - Part 2 May 9 - 13

Resources for staying up-to-date about TNReady AssessmentsYour student’s teacher is always the best resource for questions about TNReady.

MJHS Website (Quick Links) http://www.maryville-schools.org/Domain/9 Website with TNReady practice questions: http://support.micatime.com Tennessee Department of Education's webpage focused on TNReady information and

resources: http://tn.gov/tnready Tennessee Department of Education's website section with details about academic

standards for all subjects and grade levels: https://www.tn.gov/education/topic/academic-standards

Tennessee Department of Education's blog site, which features teacher perspectives and inspiring stories:

http://tnclassroomchronicles.org Tennessee Department of Education's Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/TNedu Email TNReady questions to TNReady.Questions@tn.gov.

Maryville City Schools Website (Testing Calendar Webpage) http://www.maryville-schools.org/Page/1383