FAQs - PDST



FAQs

Standardised Testing and Circular 0056/2011: Initial Steps in the Implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy

TIMING OF TESTS

Will schools that administered standardised assessments last October have to re-administer them this May/June?

It would be preferable if such schools administered the test again in May/June and the Department encourages schools to do so. It would provide schools and class teachers with an opportunity to see how the pupils had progressed during the school year. If this poses a particular difficulty for some schools, the Department will not insist on re-testing during this, the first, year of the implementation of Circular 0056/2011. This is an exceptional matter for this year only.  From the academic year 2012/2013, all tests under Circular 0056/2011 must be carried out in May/June of the academic year.

EXEMPTIONS

Which students may be exempted from the standardised tests i.e. what categories of need will preclude children from taking the tests?

It is important to get as complete a picture as possible of the achievements of pupils in an inclusive school system. All pupils should be included in the standardised testing if at all possible. 

 

Section 6.4 of Circular 0056/2011 states: ‘Students may be excluded from standardised testing if, in the view of the school principal, they have a learning or physical disability which would prevent them from attempting the tests or, in the case of migrant students, where the level of English required in the test would make attempting the test inappropriate.’  

 

The exemption criteria used by the Educational Research Centre for the 2009 National Assessments give a degree of guidance:

- pupils with less than one year's instruction in English and limited proficiency in English

- pupils with moderate to severe learning disabilities

- pupils with a physical disability that would prevent them from participating for example, a visual difficulty severe enough to prevent the child from accessing the print (unless Braille versions will be created) 

 

In accordance with Circular 0056/2011, exemptions should be considered on a case-by-case basis by the school principal and be warranted only in exceptional cases. Exemptions should not give licence for the blanket exclusion of any group of pupils, for example, traveller or migrant pupils.

REPORTING

Report Cards

Will schools that have already purchased commercial report books for pupils have to use the NCCA templates? Alternatively, can they use the commercial books for existing pupils and commence the NCCA templates for new pupils?

Schools should audit their existing school report to ensure that it includes the five requirements that are outlined in Circular 0056/2011:

- the standardised test result for children in second, fourth and sixth classes and

- the four areas for reporting identified by NCCA

o the child as a learner 

o the child’s personal and social development

o the child’s progress with learning in curriculum areas or subjects

o next steps in the child’s learning, including ways for parents to help. 

The Department has advised that, if a school’s current report meets these requirements, they may continue to use it for the academic year 2011/2012. However, for new children starting school in September 2012, schools should use one of the NCCA’s Report Card Templates or use the NCCA’s Report Card Creator to create their own school report.

Some publishers have informed schools that their new report booklet is aligned with the NCCA’s Report Card Template and that it complies fully with the requirements of the Department’s Strategy and Circular 0056/2011. Can schools use this report booklet to meet the reporting requirements of the circular? 

The Department is not in a position to comment on any report materials that have been provided by publishers for commercial purposes. Circular 0056/2011 requires that ‘All primary schools must use one of the report card templates (available at ncca.ie) for reporting to parents on student's progress and achievement at school with effect from the date of this circular.’ It is up to the school to ensure that the report card it uses includes the requirements outlined in the circular.

Reporting Standardised Test Results to Parents

Should class-based scores or age-based scores be reported to the parents?

The Drumcondra tests provide class-based norms for both the reading and mathematics tests whilst it is possible to derive both class-based norms and age-based norms from the Micra-T test. Age-based based scores are not available for the Sigma T but it is possible to convert scores to a verbal descriptor called a Mathematics Level Indicator.  As class-based scores are being submitted to the Department, they should also be recorded on the pupils' reports to parents (it is important that schools report the same information to parents as they do to the Department).  However, in some circumstances, particularly if the child is older/younger than the class average, there may be a difference in both scores. In such situations, schools might find it helpful to share the age-based score verbally with the parent as well. 

Must schools provide parents with hard copies of the NCCA leaflet regarding testing or can they direct them to the NCCA website instead? If schools have recently provided this information for parents, are they required to provide it again to the same parents with the report card this May/June?

It is important that a parent is provided with a copy of the explanatory note so that they can interpret their child's standardised test result with ease. Having this information close at hand will help to clarify the parents' understanding of what the standardised result means regardless of whether they have received it before or not. One way of overcoming any difficulties that a school may have in providing the NCCA leaflets in hard copy is to forward   them by e-mail to the parent/s.

Reporting Standardised Test Results to the Board of Management

How should a school, particularly a small school, report standardised test results to the Board of Management?

As advised in Circular 0056/2011, ‘Principal teachers in primary schools are required to report annually aggregated assessment data from standardised tests to the board of management of their schools.’

Section 7.6 of the circular provides advice on the limitations of using aggregated data, which should be in the form of STens as outlined in the appendix in the circular.

Further advice in relation to confidentiality is provided in Boards of Management of National Schools; Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure 2011 (p6):

The focus of the Board’s considerations in relation to teaching and learning must be on ensuring the best possible outcomes for the school’s pupils. It is important to ensure that any such discussions do not breach pupil confidentiality. Likewise, information provided to the Board for this purpose should be in a format that does not breach pupil confidentiality (e.g., information aggregated by class or group, as appropriate).    

Reporting standardised test results to the Department of Education and Skills

What will schools use to report standardised test data to the Department?

Appendix 2 in Circular 0018/2012 Supporting Assessment: Standardised Testing in Primary Schools provides an update on the reporting of standardised tests results to the Department.

The Department is developing an online system to enable schools to upload their standardised test data via Easinet. Appendix 2 in Circular 0018/2012 sets out the aggregate data schools will need to retain from the 2011/12 tests to make a return via the online system. This is an updated version of the table provided in the appendix in Circular 0056/2011. It is anticipated that the online system will be operational in autumn 2012 and guidance will be provided to schools on how to use the system.

Will the Department’s electronic process for submitting data be compatible with the electronic data processing tools that are available from the standardised test providers?

Schools will be able to use the data from the electronic data processing tools to populate the return to the Department.

Should class-based scores or age-based scores be reported to the Department and the parents?

For consistency, class-based scores should be submitted to the Department.

TRANSFER OF INFORMATION

Do primary schools have to transfer that data to post-primary schools this year?

Yes, schools will have to forward the data to post-primary schools this year.  

Who is responsible for the transfer of the assessment information from primary to receiving post-primary schools?

The post-primary principal is responsible for informing the primary school principal of the confirmed enrolment whilst the responsibility for transferring the data will rest with the primary school principal.

When should the data be transferred to the receiving secondary school?

As advised in Circular 0056/2011, 'This information should only be provided after enrolment in the primary or second-level school has been accepted.’ It would be prudent for a primary school to wait until it had received written confirmation from the post-primary school that the child had been enrolled before releasing the report.

Is it time enough to forward the data to the secondary schools in September?

It is not feasible for the Department to state when the data should be transferred. Schools may already have systems in place for the transfer of pupil reports. However, in order to facilitate the pupils' learning, it is desirable that the post-primary school advise the primary school of the transfer of the pupil as soon as possible and that the primary school transfers the report for the pupil by the end of the first week of September at the latest.

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