Secondary Level KSA
LACROSSE USD 395 HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dear Parents of 7th grade, 8th grade, sophomores and juniors:
Kansas State Assessments at the secondary level will soon be in full swing. Our testing dates begin Feb. 23 and continue through April 28. We will be administering a lot of tests this year as mandated by the state and we need parent support in order to ensure success.
The core teachers at LMS/LHS have geared their instruction toward the state standards to prepare their students for the upcoming tests and are eager to get the assessments underway. Our hope is that the students' level of concern in where it should be and that they perform to the very best of their ability.
Please note the following testing schedule:
| Grade Level | Curriculum Area | Dates |
| 7th/8th | Math | April 20-28 |
| 7th/8th | Reading | March 9-13 |
| 8th | Writing | Feb. 23-27 |
| 7th | Science | April 6-9 |
| Sophomores | Math | Feb. 23-27 |
| Sophomores | Reading | March 30-April 3 |
| Sophomores | Science | March 23-27 |
| Sophomores | Social Studies | April 20-24 |
| Juniors | Science | March 23-27 |
| Juniors | Social Studies | April 20-24 |
| Juniors | Writing | April 6-9 |
The individual accountability of each student is of the utmost importance as student scores are averaged by building and district to determine Adequate Yearly Progress for each Kansas school. School report cards generated by the state each year also reflect building results on the state assessment.
As parents you can help alleviate some of the stress and worry that so often comes with the testing process. The following interventions could ultimately make a big difference in how your child performs:
1. Make sure your child gets adequate sleep prior to each testing date.
2. Make sure your child eats a hearty, nutritional breakfast each day.
3. Help them avoid negativity or potential adverse situations prior to coming to school each day.
4. Help them review their vocabulary each evening.
5. Encourage them to take the assessments seriously.
6. Make sure they attend school and avoid absences and scheduling outside appointments that conflict with testing dates and times.
Each year LHS sets our own personal state assessment goal in each of the testing areas. (Obviously this gaol is a bit higher than the state goal to ensure our students work to the very best of their ability). We use our own goal as the average that must be achieved as a class in order for a reward to be offered. This year each class that meets the school goal in one or more curriculum area will be granted the entire day off from school on Friday, May 8. Hopefully this incentive will help motivate the students to put forth their very best effort and to perform well.
In addition, LaCrosse High School and USD #395 have made the decision to engage in the Opportunity To Learn (OTL) option for students taking the Kansas State Assessments. The OTL option applies to ONLY high school students in the areas of math and reading. This option allows our students two testing opportunities and will hopefully keep our district on target in making Adequate Yearly Progress as dictated by the No Child Left Behind initiative of the Federal Government. Only students who do NOT achieve ''Meets Standards"" (proficient) on the first test are allowed to be retested the following year. We will test out tenth graders in math and reading each year and the students who do NOT achieve ''Meets Standard'' will be required to remediate and each student will receive individualized help with the goal of achieving a better score on the state assessment the next year.
NOTE: The juniors this year who did not meet the standards last year as sophomores in math and reading will be assessed again i these subject matters this year as part of the OTL option. These tests will occur at the same time the sophomores are testing in math and reading.
Sincerely,
Mrs Keeley & Staff
