TerraNova 3

ACSI is pleased to announce our selection of CTB/McGraw-Hill as our standardized test vendor beginning with the spring of 2012 testing season.

Spring Testing Information and Order Form

Still on the fence? Review TerraNova 3 Benefits

Dear Administrator...ACSI announces TerraNova 3 selection

Announcement of Partnership from CTB McGraw-Hill

Product QuickFacts

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Overview

TerraNova, Third Edition Complete Battery provides detailed diagnostic information. This series of assessments generates precise norm-referenced achievement scores, a full complement of criterion-referenced objective mastery scores, and performance-level information.

Features:

• New Complete Battery with language for Kindergarten through Grade 2 includes reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies
• Uses selected-response items to provide detailed comparative and diagnostic information
• Provides norm-referenced achievement scores, criterion-referenced objective mastery scores, and performance-level information

Complete Battery supports student achievement at every stage of the instruction/assessment cycle, as illustrated in the assessment model below.

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History of Assessment

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Scope and Sequence:

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Scheduling Test Administration

To help ACSI schools plan their test administration schedules for TerraNova 3, ACSI Edition, PTCS, and InView, CTB has developed sample schedules for spring testing. These schedules include three testing scenarios for each grade level. They may be helpful to you as you plan your spring test administration times.

Sample test administration schedules—Three per grade level
 

Item Counts/Test Times:

TerraNova, Third Edition, ACSI

Administration Times/#of Items

Complete Battery                                                 Plus Tests

Inview

Administration Times/#of Items

Primary Cognitive Skills (PTCS)

Administration Times/#of Items

*Note: PTCS is not timed. When planning administration, allow 30 minutes for each of the four tests.

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National Standards

TerraNova, Third Edition Complete Battery measures a common framework of national standards. Your CTB Evaluation Consultant can provide more information on the standards framework.

Additionally, the following tables provide examples illustrating how TerraNova, Third Edition Complete Battery aligns with the framework of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), in particular:

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 ACSI Scoring Package

PDF reports of the printed reports will be sent by CTB within 5 business days from receipt of test materials by CTB. Printed Reports will be sent by CTB within 10 business days from receipt of test materials by CTB.  All ACSI Scoring Package reports are available in paper and pdf formats, with the exception of the Student Label, which is available in paper only.

• Individual Profile Report—2 copies
• Student Label—1 copy (paper only)
• Student Label with InView—1 copy
• Group List Report—2 copies
• Group List Report with InView—2 copies
• Objectives Report—1 copy
• Objectives Summary—1 copy
• Assessment Summary—1 copy
• Assessment Summary with InView—1 copy
• Bible Assessment Student Report—2 copies
• Bible Assessment Summary Roster—1 copy
• Bible Assessment Summary Report—2 copies

(Lexiles included in ACSI scoring package through ACSI Data Online. Lexiles are optionals as a paper report.)

Optional Reports  (All optional reports are available in paper only)

• Home Report
• Student Rank Order Report with Lexiles     
• Reading Links Report
• Student Performance Level Report    
• Group Performance Level Report  
• Item Analysis Report 
• Item Analysis Summary 
• State Proficiency Reports Samples

Instructional Resources

Schools and districts can purchase the following CTB products to help fine-tune instruction following administration of TerraNova, Third Edition Complete Battery:

• Classroom Connections™, a companion to TerraNova, Third Edition, includes practice materials and teaching strategies for helping students work on particular standards and skills

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Sample Test Items

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TerraNova FAQs

• Why is ACSI changing to a different achievement test vendor?
• Why did ACSI choose the TerraNova, Third Edition, for its achievement-test program?
• When will the transition from Stanford 10 to TerraNova 3 take place?
• Will the pricing for TerraNova 3 be comparable to Stanford 10, Form C? More? Less?
• Will the testing window still be in April?
• Is this a timed test?
• How will the scoring work?
• Will this test also include a Bible assessment subtest?
• Which grade levels will TerraNova 3 test?
• When was the TerraNova developed?
• What about TerraNova’s alignment to state and national standards?
• Is the OLSAT or a similar ability test available from the CTB/McGraw-Hill?
• Are there diagnostic tests, school-readiness tests, career-guidance tests, language-proficiency tests, etc., available from CTB/McGraw-Hill?
• Will schools be able to compare the TerraNova 3 test scores to students’ previous scores on the Stanford 10?
• What kinds of resources will be available for TerraNova?
• What should we do with all of our old Stanford 10 materials?
• Can we still use Stanford 10 for one or two more years?
• How will ACSI communicate to schools the details of the transition from the Stanford 10 to TerraNova 3?
• Are the tests all multiple-choice, or will there be writing assessments included?
• Does CTB/McGraw Hill offer a scope and sequence for each grade level?
• What reports will be included in our ACSI Scoring Package?
• Will there be ACSI norms? If so, when and how will they be developed?
• What is the ACSI member school pricing for TeraNova 3 in 2011–12?

Why is ACSI changing to a different achievement test vendor?

ACSI’s goal is to provide a high-quality current assessment that includes helpful and technical resources at a minimal cost. With this goal in mind, ACSI researched testing companies and their products and services, and then made the decision to transition to a test that best fits these criteria.

Why did ACSI choose the TerraNova, Third Edition, for its achievement-test program?

TerraNova 3 is one of the most respected and widely used achievement tests, measuring mastery in the core subjects. Its design is fresh and user-friendly, and its content is current. TerraNova 3 provides detailed diagnostic information, norm- and criterion-referenced scores, and performance-level data.

Schools will have test results available online just a few days after submitting them for scoring. The online reporting system will provide administrators and teachers the tools for disaggregation of individual and group data, discussions for school improvement, student growth and progress, and much more. Paper reports will also follow in an extremely timely manner. Decreased cost for schools is also a major reason ACSI chose TerraNova 3.                                                

When will the transition from Stanford 10 to TerraNova 3 take place?

ACSI’s testing program will remain with the Stanford 10 for the 2010/2011 school year. Schools will begin using TerraNova 3 in the 2011/2012 school year.

Will the pricing for TerraNova 3 be comparable to Stanford 10, Form C? More? Less?

The cost of TerraNova 3 test booklets and scoring will actually be less than the 2010/2011 cost of Stanford 10 materials and scoring for those schools participating in the ACSI Testing Program.

Will the testing window still be in April?

Yes.

Is this a timed test?

Yes.

How will the scoring work?

Schools will return student test booklets and answer documents to the TerraNova 3 scoring center to be scored. Online static reports will be available to schools within five business days of CTB/McGraw-Hill’s receipt of testing materials. Schools will receive physical score reports within about ten business days. Shortly after this, schools will be able to access the interactive online score reporting system.

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Will this test also include a Bible assessment subtest?

Yes. The Bible Assessment Subtest has been reviewed and will be included in the TerraNova 3.

Which grade levels will TerraNova 3 test?

The TerraNova tests grade levels K–12.

When was the TerraNova developed?

The test was published in 2007; it compares student performance using nationally representative, empirical, 2007 norms.

What about TerraNova’s alignment to state and national standards?

TerraNova 3 aligns to state standards and to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) framework. CTB/McGraw-Hill is in the process of creating an alignment study for the Common Core Standards.

• Reading item content aligns with the standards of the International Reading Association (IRA), NAEP, and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
• Language item content assesses students’ skills in the key components of language proficiency—understanding of language structure, familiarity with standard written English conventions and rules, and knowledge of syntactic constructions and paragraph development.
• Mathematics assessments include items that are set in real-world contexts with contemporary topics suggested by teachers and students. Items are aligned to the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
• Science assessments are based on national science standards and frameworks. They assess student understanding relative to core science content areas: Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Nature of Science/Science Inquiry.
• Social Studies assessments reflect the guidelines of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and emphasize the interrelationships of history, geography, governments, and economics.

Is the OLSAT or a similar ability test available from the CTB/McGraw-Hill?

Also available in the new ACSI testing program are two additional tests designed to measure cognitive skills and abilities: the Primary Test of Cognitive Skills (PTCS), for ages 5–7, and InView for grades 2–12. Schools can use results of these two tests to diagnose possible learning disabilities, to plan placement, and to develop effective instructional programs. When used with TerraNova 3, both tests provide anticipated-achievement scores.

Are there diagnostic tests, school-readiness tests, career-guidance tests, language-proficiency tests, etc., available from CTB/McGraw-Hill?

ACSI is working with CTB/McGraw-Hill to provide an array of testing products and services that will enhance a school’s capacity to evaluate student abilities.

Will schools be able to compare the TerraNova 3 test scores to students’ previous scores on the Stanford 10?

Yes. Schools will receive transition norms the first year of testing with TerraNova 3.

What kinds of resources will be available for TerraNova?

Through the ACSI testing program, schools will be able to access many CTB/McGraw-Hill resources that help educators and parents make the best use of TerraNova test results.

What should we do with all of our old Stanford 10 materials?

These materials should be destroyed in a secure manner.

Can we still use Stanford 10 for one or two more years?

ACSI will not sell Stanford 10 products or scoring after June 30, 2011.

How will ACSI communicate to schools the details of the transition from the Stanford 10 to TerraNova 3?

• Beginning February 2011, ACSI will walk schools through the transition process by communicating important information through multiple mailings, e-mails, and the ACSI Communicator.
• Beginning in spring 2011, ACSI will present webinars designed to provide schools with training ranging from basic product and service information to more in-depth topics.
• In fall 2011, schools will receive TerraNova 3 introductory kits, which will provide very detailed information about the new ACSI testing program.
• ACSI and CTB will present informational seminars during the 2011/12 convention season.
• Schools can also access www.acsi.org for highlights of the program and for continuing updates.
• In addition, ACSI customer service and sales staff are available to answer questions at 800.367.0798.

Are the tests all multiple-choice, or will there be writing assessments included?

The ACSI edition of TeraNova 3 will be multiple-choice only.

Does CTB/McGraw Hill offer a scope and sequence for each grade level?

Yes. A resource entitled Teacher’s Guide includes a scope and sequence for TerraNova 3.

Will there be ACSI norms? If so, when and how will they be developed?

The first year of TerraNova testing (spring 2012) provides the data for the development of ACSI (rolling) norms; therefore, ACSI norms will first appear on Spring 2013 score reports.

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