The hard drive to student growth: An Idaho district discovers how computerized testing helps foster continuous student improvement

School Administrator, April, 2002 by Linda Clark

RELATED ARTICLE: Teaching the Teacher to Test.

When the Meridian School District in Idaho decided to move from standardized testing to achievement-level testing, we knew how crucial it was for teachers to be trained in how to take advantage of all the testing system offered.

It wasn't merely a matter of showing teachers how to implement the tests but making sure they understood the incredible level of detailed data available to them and how they could use that data to identify student needs and direct their teaching strategies.

To assure that familiarity first with paper-and-pencil tests and later with computerized Measures of Academic Progress testing, the district worked closely with the test developer, Northwest Evaluation Association. "Training on the system is fairly simple," says NWEA president Allan Olson, "so our major focus is helping districts understand the data available to them."

Together, Meridian and NWEA instituted the time-honored "train the trainer" model whereby NWEA trains a group of educators who then go back to their campuses and train others. For Meridian, this entailed one week of overview training for volunteer teams from each of the district's 33 buildings.

Team members received in-depth information about the district's plans for development and implementation of a comprehensive assessment program and were introduced to level testing, the cornerstone of the program. Training initially centered on the administration of these paper-and-pencil tests and later evolved to the Internet-enabled MAP testing system.

Subsequently, teams from each building--the principal and representatives from grade levels 3-8--were trained in test administration. They, in turn, provided instruction for the other teachers from the building. During the pilot period, and in subsequent years, additional team training was provided in order to continually expand staff knowledge.

Since the testing program is an ongoing effort, MAP training is offered to all new teachers and administrators joining the district. The district's testing department now provides in-depth training on the use of level test data to inform instruction at the classroom level and administrators are receiving training on the use of data to inform site improvement planning.

Parents, who are vital to the program's success, receive instructive information in pamphlets, school newsletters and district publications as well as from interaction with teachers and in video form in the future. The reaction from teachers, students and parents has been overwhelmingly supportive.

Linda Clark is director of instruction, Joint School District 2,911 Meridian St., Meridian, ID 83642. E-mail: clarkl@meridianschools.org