What is tcap testing in tennessee?

Are your kids preparing for the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, known TCAP? TCAP tests measure the progress of students from kindergarten to 8th grade, as well as high school. Tennessee TCAP test results provide actionable data that will help parents, teachers, and students improve academic performance in reading/language arts, math, writing, science, and social studies. TCAP Achievement Tests are also used in evaluating each school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

Time4Learning, an online service that teaches many of the skills that these exams test, offers this page to help you understand the best ways to help your kids with TCAP practice and test prep.

Tennessee public school students take the following TCAP tests:

TCAP tests are aligned to Tennessee State Standards, also known as curriculum standards, which define what students should learn each year. The annual TCAP testing is administered as follows:

Mandated TCAP tests are given to all students in third grade through eighth grade: 3rd grade – 8th grade: TCAP tests in reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies

TCAP testing is not mandated for kindergarten, first, or second grade, but school districts may elect to test:

In addition, The Tennessee Writing Assessment is given every year to students in 5th, 8th, and 11th grades.

The Secondary TCAP Assessments, also known as Gateway/End of Course Assessments, are administered to all high school students upon the completion of the Gateway courses (algebra I, English II, and biology) and other subjects. Students must score at the proficient level on the three Gateway tests to receive a diploma. Students who fail have multiple chances to retake the test(s).

The TCAP and Gateway/EOC tests are standards-based, criterion-referenced tests. Students are measured by how well they have mastered grade-specific skills, instead of being compared to the performance of other test takers. The Tennessee TCAP tests report students’ performance in each subject, using the following three levels: 1. Advanced 2. Proficient 3. Below Proficient

The TCAP test scores for kindergarten through 2nd grade are norm-referenced, meaning students’ achievement is compared to the performance of their peers from across the nation.

The Tennessee Writing Assessment is scored holistically. Holistic scoring takes into consideration the overall effectiveness of the writing, not just grammar and mechanics. Trained readers evaluate each student’s writing test using a six-point scale and anchor papers for each grade.

Tennessee uses a balanced range of assessments to promote learning for all students. The TCAP-MAAS (TCAP-Modified Academic Achievement Standards) is designed to measure the progress of students with severe cognitive disabilities who require special accommodations. Students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) take the English Language Development Assessment (ELDA), which measures their progress in English language acquisition.

Tennessee also participates annually in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the Nation’s Report Card, where a sampling of students (from grades 4, 8, and/or 12) are tested in several content areas as part of a nationally representative assessment of student performance.

A good resource is the Tennessee Department of Education’s assessment webpage.

For general tips on test preparation, please visit our standardized test overview page. The real preparation for the Tennessee TCAP tests, or any standardized test, begins with your commitment to your children’s education throughout their school years. Devote time and effort to helping your children learn. Start by making sure your kids do their homework and read every day. Many families also employ tutors or an online learning program, such as Time4Learning, to build fundamental skills.

When preparing for standardized tests, students often benefit from test prep programs and books, which offer guidance and practice with test formats, time restrictions, test-taking strategies (when to guess, when not to), and different types of questions. For instance, when a reading passage is followed by comprehension questions, many test prep programs teach students to scan the questions first in order to know what areas of the passage require close reading. Time4Learning is not a test prep program, it is a program that builds the skills that will be tested.

Time4Learning is a new approach that takes advantage of today’s technology. It’s a convenient, online home education program that combines learning with fun educational teaching games.

The online language arts and math curriculum comprise a comprehensive program for preschool, elementary school, and middle school. Science and social studies programs are provided for most grades.

Kids like using the computer to learn and to develop their skills. Time4Learning’s educational teaching games give students independence as they progress at their own pace.

TCAP testing is set to begin Monday, which means third graders who don’t score a high enough reading score indicating they are reading at grade level could be held back because of the third-grade retention law that the Tennessee legislature has yet to change.

“I have significant concerns that we are not ready, and that even more importantly, our schools and our families are not ready for the disruptions this is going to cause this year,” said Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D—Nashville) at a Senate committee hearing this week.

While discussing a bill that would change the law for next year’s third graders, Yarbro proposed an amendment that would push the implementation of the law to a year later.

“I just don’t think this policy is ready to be implemented for students across the state,” the Democratic Minority Leader said.

Republicans called that an “unfriendly amendment” and tabled it.

“They are ready,” Sen. Ferrell Haile (R—Gallatin) said of the school districts he represents. “They explained this bill to me…much better than our discussion has been today and they are ready.”

The bill that would change the law next year is scheduled to be on the Senate floor next week.

If it passes, it would allow another benchmark assessment to be considered for students who score in the “approaching grade level” category of the TCAP reading assessment.

It would also provide a pathway for teachers and administrators to assist with an appeal to go onto the next grade level if they don’t score high enough on the TCAP.

Considering that 2021 TCAP data indicates that seven out of 10 third graders would’ve been held back if this law was in place two years ago, parents are worried on how this will impact their child(ren)’s education.

“The test themselves are not an accurate measure of proficiency,” said third grade parent Alesandra Bellos. “We already have a teacher and staffing shortage and this is just going to intensify that, and I would imagine this would disrupt a lot of students learning. It’s just going to be a scramble all around.”

This year’s TCAP test results are expected to come out in the middle of May, which has parents and teachers concerned that kids who don’t get the reading score needed to advance will be in a rush to figure out next steps.

According to the current law, a student who doesn’t achieve a score indicating they are reading on grade level has the option of retaking the test, signing up for a summer learning camp, or getting a tutor for the following year if they want to continue to the fourth grade.

Students in Tennessee are required to take a college entrance exam (either the ACT or SAT) in the eleventh grade. This is now a graduation requirement for student seeking a regular or honors diploma. Districts in Tennessee contract with ACT to provide an opportunity to take the ACT at their own school during the school day at no cost to the student.

Yes

Administered in accordance with T.C.A § 49-6-6001(b).

Our vision for student success in Tennessee is that all students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to successfully embark on their chosen path in life. Empowering our students to pursue the education and training that matches their chosen career pathway is essential to this vision. In order to prepare our students with the knowledge and skills valued by both employers and postsecondary educators, the department has set two major strategic goals:

Paper testing: March 17, March 31, and April 21, 2020

Accommodations (paper): March 17-20, March 23-27, 2020

Online window: March 20-29, 2018 (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only)

Students may register to take the SAT on the following dates:: August 26, October 7, November 4, and December 2.

Dates in 2018 include: March 10, May 5, and June 2.

English: 45 minutes

Math: 60 minutes

Reading: 35 minutes

Science: 35 minutes

25-minute essay

Six 25-minute sections (mathematics, critical reading and writing)

Two 20-minute sections (mathematics, critical reading and writing)

10-minute multiple choice writing section

District receive ACT results 2-3 months after state testing is complete.

The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) is designed to assess true student understanding, not just basic memorization and test-taking skills. It is a way to assess what our students know and what we can do to help them succeed in the future.