ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES
Meeting Minutes
August 23, 2000
Meeting Minutes
May 15, 2002
Meeting Minutes
August 20, 2002
Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2003
Meeting Minutes
August 19, 2003
Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2003
Meeting Minutes
October 17, 2003
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Assessment Committee Meeting
October 17, 2003

Committee members present: Arllys Monson,, Mary Hansen, Michael Halley, Shelly Groene, Doris Troyer, Teresa Halley

Updates on the above items (minutes of October 15th) given to other committee members. Basically, all items listed have been updated, graduate surveys have been included, and STAR testing will be updated within the next week.

Committee Chairperson: Arllys Monson

Assessment Committee Meeting
October 15, 2003

Committee members present: Arllys Monson, Patti Cunningham, Don Helgren, Mary Hansen, Pat Reinoehl, Michael Halley, Shelly Groene, Doris Troyer, Teresa Halley
Distributed school improvement surveys to committee members. Surveys are due October 24th.

Discussed items to be updated on the school web page regarding assessment:
1. Terra Nova Test Results from 2002-03.
2. Library circulation numbers for last 2 months.
3. ACT scores for the 2002-03 school year.
4. CMS testing results--quartile reporting system--where is it?
5. Include data from the follow-up surveys of past graduates regarding their preparation in the area of language arts.
6. School report card updates.

Committee chairperson will be talking to Mr. Hoesing regarding the status of the above. Another meeting will be held on October 17 to update committee members on these matters.

Committee Chairperson: Arllys Monson


Assessment Committee Meeting
August 19, 2003

Committee members present: Arllys Monson, Patti Cunningham, Don Helgren, Mary Hansen, Pat Reinoehl, Michael Halley, Shelly Groene, Doris Troyer

Review test data gathered over a number of years to track progress of student achievement in the area of language arts:

1. Terra Nova Test results for the past 10 years.

2. ACT averages for each year of the past 12 years.

Reviewed the measures needed to complete the assessment process before the external visitation team comes in December. Items discussed that need to be updated: meeting minutes, new Terra Nova scores updated, 2003 ACT composite scores, library book circulation numbers from 2002-03 school year, STAR reading results, new goals for next cycle.

Will meet within the next few weeks to review the updates and double check other information that should be included in the final report.

Committee Chairperson: Arllys Monson


Assessment Committee Meeting
January 23, 2003

Committee members present: Arllys Monson, Patti Cunningham, Don Helgren, Mary Hansen, Pat Reinoehl, Teresa Halley, Michael Halley

1. Reviewed the report from the Oct. 22, 2001 External Visitation Team which arrived in December, 2002. Discussed comments, recommendations, strengths and weaknesses.

2. Upon the written recommendation of the elementary principal, Stephanie Petersen,
supported the elimination of Terra Nova testing in grades 1 and 2. Reasons for eliminating the test in these grades included: test results not used for state or HAL reports; only present use of scores is for title matrix; cost; other NENAC schools begin this testing in grades 2-3; no expected negative impact on the elementary population; guidance counselor did not feel this would be a problem. After some discussion, the committee agreed the testing was not necessary at this level.

Committee Chairperson: Arllys Monson


Assessment Committee Meeting
August 20, 2002

Committee members present: Arllys Monson, Patti Cunningham, Don Helgren, Mary Hansen, Shelly Groene, Pat Reinoehl, Doris Troyer, Teresa Halley

No committee work will be initiated until the State External Visitation Team Report from last fall has been received. At that time, the results will be studied and any questions, weaknesses, or problems will be addressed by the committee.

Committee Chairperson: Arllys Monson

Assessment Committee Meeting
Wednesday, May 15, 2002

Committee members present: Arllys Monson, Patti Cunningham, Don Helgren, Mary Hansen, Shelly Groene, Pat Reinoehl, Doris Troyer, Teresa Halley

Assessment Concerns for the 2002-03 School Year:

1. CMS testing. We need to look more closely at the skills covered at each grade level, reevaluate the best level for standards to be tested, and coordinate assessments between the elementary grades, the elementary grades and junior high grades, and the high school classes. Teachers for grades 2,3,5, and 6 in particular are unsure of what is expected of them in regards to state standards assessments, if anything.

2. Development of assessments to cover the listening standards required by the state.

3. Is a clear, updated understanding of state writing assessment for teachers in grades 4,8, and 11? Confusion about grading procedures.

4. STAR Reading Program--questions about its validity in regard to assessing the reading level of students. Elementary staff in particular has noticed wide variance in the test scores, especially with students who are better readers. Score swings can be very wide, and surprisingly high or low within the same school year. Investigate?

5. Time needed for assessment purposes is cutting into units of study, instructional time, and affects the morale of students. ("Oh, no, another test?")

6. CMS tests vary in difficulty, especially in the reading comprehension tests. Some tests have questions that seem ambiguous.

7. Secondary Resource Room concern: CMS testing needs to be more carefully coordinated with the resource rooms, since resource students need to take the same tests as regular classroom students.

8. Secondary Resource Room concern: What is the correct administration of the CMS tests? (e.g. Can tests be read to students and still be considered valid?)

Committee Chairperson: Arllys Monson
(MaryKay Hasemann, the other co-chair of this committee, is no longer working for this school district.)

Assessment Committee Meeting
Recommendations to the HPL Steering Committee
August 23, 2000

1. Provide copies of the state language arts standards that were determined for each elementary grade level to elementary teachers who did not participate in the summer assessment workshop. Explain how they were determined, methods of assessment, and the deadlines and procedures for reporting these assessments to the state.

2. Familiarize all teachers with the present and upcoming state standards in the four academic areas determined by the state. This will be helpful to teachers who are required to develop and report these assessments in upcoming years. It will also familiarize other members of the teaching staff with how they may contribute in meeting these standards through their own coursework and curriculum.

3. Secondary staff will be familiarized and updated with the aims, student point requirements, and benefits of the Accelerated Reader Program. Teachers can then better determine how and when to allow for AR reading time in their classroom.

4. Familiarize all teachers with the 6 Trait Writing Process to be implemented this year in all language arts classrooms.

Co-Chairpersons: Mary Kay Hasemann
Arllys Monson