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Polk schools present annual assessment calendar; district will submit state testing plan by Oct. 1
Summary
District academic leaders reviewed the district’s assessment calendar, confirmed PSAT for 10th graders and SAT for 11th graders as primary statewide comparatives, and said additional concordant/ comparative options are available and communicated through test coordinators.
Polk County Public Schools told the school board on Aug. 12 that the district’s annual state and district assessment calendar must be submitted to the state by Oct. 1 and that staff will present the calendar for approval at a future board meeting.
Sandy Riley Hawkins, introducing the item with chief academic officer Joe McNaughton, said state assessments set much of the schedule but the district offers additional concordant and comparative testing options for 10th‑ and 11th‑grade students. “In October, we do the PSAT … and then for our 11th graders in the spring, we have chosen the SAT,” Hawkins said, adding that the district provides alternative assessments and progress monitoring where appropriate.
Board members sought clarity on how the district communicates concordant and comparative options to students and families and on the role of district test coordinators. Joe McNaughton said schools receive data sets and monitoring reports so campuses can track students’ opportunities to take alternative assessments. He said the district also provides non‑college reportable ACT administrations (extended time) and the CLT as additional options.
Board member Wyatt asked how the district assures students that failure on an algebra EOC does not permanently bar graduation; staff replied that other course alignments and comparative assessments permit remediation and alternate routes. Board members said they would like test‑coordinator materials and the district dashboard shared broadly with schools and the full board.
Hawkins said the district will present the final calendar at the next board meeting for formal approval and that the state submission deadline is Oct. 1.
