State Testing Requirements for Virtual 3rd Graders
To the Parents/Guardians of Third Grade Virtual Students:
Third Grade Fall English Language Arts state testing begins the week of October 19, 2020. These tests are required by federal and state law and, at this point in time, are still required for the 2020-21 school year. As you may already know, in Ohio under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, students in grade three test twice in English Language Arts, once in the Fall and then a second time in the Spring.
Districts are required to test IN PERSON all students in grade three this Fall, regardless of whether students are learning virtually, from home, or attending school for face-to-face instruction. Per the Ohio Department of Education: “Due to technology and test security requirements, there is no option to remotely administer state tests. All testing must be done in person with a test administrator who is an employee of the district with a license, certificate or permit issued by the Ohio Department of Education.”
We will try to accommodate our parents and virtual students to the best of our ability to complete this required in-person state testing. We must complete all testing within 5 school days, and our scheduled test dates are Tuesday, October 20th through Friday, October 23, 2020. The elementary administrative team and third grade teachers have created a flexible schedule for you to select the location, date, and time that best fits your family’s needs. The test will be administered in 2 parts and may last up to 3 hours, and we ask that you provide a good contact number to be called when your child finishes the test so that he/she may be picked up. Students will be testing in a small group, will be separated from the rest of the student population (if testing during the day), and will be socially distanced in the testing room. Please make sure to send your child to test with a mask and he/she may also bring a snack and bottle of water.
Please use this link to select a testing time by the end of the school day, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14th: https://signup.com/go/PYmmMeE
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s principal.
Sincerely,
Corinne Hayes,
Assistant Superintendent
Southwest Local School District