TCAP testing determines school system’s grade-It measures skills
A large number of Warren County students just completed the most important test they’ll take all year.
The annual TCAP tests were held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and every student in grades 3-8 is required to take the test. The makeup day is Monday.
The TCAP, or Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, is the Super Bowl of achievement tests. It measures reading, math, social studies, and science skills.
TCAP scores are what the state uses to determine its annual Report Card scores that evaluate schools and school systems. The federal government also uses the scores to see if schools are meeting No Child Left Behind standards.
‘The state and federal government think this test is the most important thing,’ said West Elementary principal Marsha Newman. ‘Teachers prepare all year for this.’
Warren County has fared well on TCAP testing in recent years. Director of instruction Bobby Cox called the school system’s current Report Card the best one Warren County has ever received.
It was highlighted by straight A’s in math, reading, social studies and science in the Value Added category. Value Added shows if students are learning more, or less, than they are expected to learn from one year to the next.
‘We try to cover as much material as we can before TCAPs,’ said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale. ‘It’s one of the reasons people pushed for school to start earlier. The test determines if a school becomes a target school, then a high-priority school. It’s very high stakes.’
The process begins in late June or early July when school systems receive their TCAP scores from the school year that was just completed. From there, educators analyze the results before school begins to determine which areas need emphasis.
‘We try to determine where the gaps are in our teaching,’ said Newman.
As the school year begins, teachers have a checklist and pacing guidelines so they know what skills they should be teaching at that point in the year, based on state standards. Think Link tests are also used three times during the year so teachers can gauge how well students have learned the material.
‘It’s such a comprehensive test, it’s a year-long process,’ said Dr. Hale. ‘It’s not like in college when you could wait till the night before then pull an all-nighter.’
TCAPs are similar to the standardized tests that students have taken for generations. Using No. 2 pencils to shade circles, students are given a certain amount of time to complete each section.
Later in the year, high school students will take the Gateway Exams that measure what they have learned in algebra I, biology, and English II.