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District outlines seventh-grade diagnostic tests to map gaps, inform instruction
Summary
Officials presented district-created seventh-grade ELA and math diagnostic assessments given in September to benchmark incoming students from four component elementary districts. Dr. Facchio said results will guide targeted instruction and that teachers will re-test in May to measure growth.
Dr. Facchio presented the Sewanhaka Central High School District's seventh-grade diagnostic assessments and described them as a locally created tool to identify incoming students' skill gaps and inform instruction.
"What it does is it gives us a snapshot of the skills that they have coming to us," Dr. Facchio said, describing assessments administered in September. He said ELA testing ran two days (14 multiple-choice items on day one and two constructed-response items on day two, based on released state questions and seventh-grade standards). The math diagnostic likewise spanned two days (15 multiple-choice questions on day one and 10 on day two) and focused on sixth-grade foundations the district determined were necessary for success in seventh-grade math.
Dr. Facchio said teachers met on Oct. 20 to analyze results and create targeted lesson plans to address gaps identified by the diagnostics. He emphasized the intent to administer the same assessments in May to track growth from September through the school year and to inform eighth-grade planning.
Board members asked whether results had been shared with component elementary districts; Dr. Facchio said he and the superintendent had met with component superintendents and curriculum officials in August and that prior year diagnostic results had been shared.
The presentation noted that the district is considering whether to adopt a single external vendor (e.g., NWEA, iReady) or continue with district-created assessments through eighth grade.
