Catholic Schools Participate in Iowa Assessments

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Catholic News Agency

This week, Catholic K-8 schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio began testing called theĀ Iowa Assessments (IA), formerly the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). The Iowa Assessments are norm-referenced exams that measure a studentā€™s achievement and growth across a field of learning standards in grades kinder through eighth. The exam is utilized by every diocese in Texas and helps to identify studentsā€™ academic strengths and areas where they may need further growth.

Andrea Gonzalez, PsyD, director of counseling and student services for the Department of Catholic Schools says itā€™s important to note that the exam is a ā€œsnapshotā€ of a studentā€™s performance at a given testing time. Gonzalez shared that the IA exam is not intended to predict future performance but rather, measure of a childā€™s current level of achievement in key areas such as reading, writing, math, vocabulary, science and social studies.

Unlike public schools who administer the STAAR exam, which is a criterion-referenced test that requires a certain score to move to the next grade level, the IA exam in Texas Catholic schools is used to help evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum and inform instructional planning.

ā€œItā€™s important for parents to know and emphasize with their children that the Iowa Assessment is not a pass/fail exam,ā€ said Gonzalez. ā€œOverall, we are focused on individual student growth, the growth of our schools, and of our Archdiocese as a whole, year to year.ā€

Helen Hargis, director of curriculum & instruction for the Dept. of Catholic Schools offers some quick tips for parents with K-8 students preparing to take the IA in the coming weeks:

  • “As always, prepare a well-balanced breakfast for testing days. Studies show that children who eat a healthy breakfast have increased attention span, problem solving skills and improved memory.
  • Encourage an earlier bed time than usual during the IA days. Quality sleep is critical to resting the brain after complex tasks such as test taking.
  • Anxious feelings before standardized testing is understandable and typical for many students. Let your children know that you believe in them and that you know they will give their best!
  • Encourage your student pace themselves during each sub-test, so as to not spend too much time on any one question.
  • Encourage your child to exercise as research shows physical activity before exams helps students perform better on tests. Try an activity the evening before such as walking, riding a bike, spending time at the playground, anything to get the kiddos moving.”

“Prayers are always helpful as well,ā€ says Hargis.