Benchmarks 2007-2008

Available Assessments – This year there are two sources of assessments that schools will be using. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA) have created what they are calling Curriculum Benchmark Assessments (CBAs). These tests have between 10 and 15 questions are designed to be administered after each grading period and are designed to assess progress through the HAPG. The Central Region is preparing benchmark tests for math and science. These tests will be longer than the CBAs and be designed to be more traditional benchmarks.

School Benchmark Contacts – All communications about benchmarks will go through schools' benchmark contacts. For schools that have no contact listed, communications will be sent to the principal. To add someone here, please e-mail Mark Shenker.

The Tests – Both the CBAs and the Central Region benchmarks will be sent out from the Central Region Office. They will be provided in sufficient time for printing and for creating answer documents. They will be e-mailed to the school benchmark contact. The Print Shop will be able to print CBAs (we will send an order form to your school benchmark contact) and possibly also the Central Region benchmarks.

Answer Documents – Currently schools need to generate these. There may be some additional options available soon.

Scanning and Grading – All schools should have scanners and, like last year, the Central Region will offer scanning services at the regional office. We will only scan documents that have been prepared correctly. If answer documents do not meet the criteria listed below, you will be asked to send someone to clean them up prior to them being scanned.

1. All answer documents should be face-up in simple stacks
2. No paper-clips, sticky notes, folders, manila envelopes, etc. should be used to group or separate tests
3. Tests do not need to be in any particular order
4. We will only scan pre-slugged answer documents
5. Only answer documents should be submitted – no copies of tests, etc.

Reporting – Schools will need to learn to run their own reports. Campus Online training will be provided. Principals and Central Region data doctors will still be sent summary reports for all schools testing to provide some perspective on individual campus results.

Training – Training for Campus Online was offered in September. There will be more training available and will be posted here.

Participating Schools – For all assessments Campus Online should be used to administer and score the tests, and then to disaggregate the resulting data. A schedule of benchmarks can be downloaded. While all schools are welcome to use the benchmarks, the following schools are scheduled to participate in the listed content areas:

* When downloading a special test form follow the directions below on the computer where you will be generating answer documents.
1. Right-click the appropriate link labeled "Special test form" and select Save Target As...
2. Navigate to your Forms folder  [Local Disk (C:) > Program Files > TeachersWorkbench > Forms]
3. Save
4. In Windows Explorer or from My Computer navigate to the Forms folder
5. Right-click formlist.for and select Open with... use Notepad
6. Click at the end of the last line and press Enter to create a new line
7. Copy and paste the entire string of characters listed under the special test form link above
8. Save and then close Notepad
9. If TeachersWorkbench is open, close it and then open it again - the new form will be at the bottom of the list of forms.

Corrections/Changes to Central Region Benchmarks

Installing/Reinstalling TeachersWorkbench

instructions for installing/updating TeachersWorkbench and TWB-Report software