Districts were required to adopt their own content standards by January 1, 1997. Districts are responsible for designing their own curricula to reflect their own standards, which must meet or exceed the state standards. The spring 1997 administration was the first. All grade 4 students are assessed in reading and writing. On both of those tests, about half the score is from multiple-choice items.
Students also respond to a state-determined prompt.
Constructed-response items and writing samples are scored by the contractor, not teachers, using rubrics the contractor developed. All items on the assessment were selected or developed to measure student performance on the state standards. Additional grades and content areas will be phased in according to pending legislation. A grade 3 reading test will be developed. Rules have been established on developmental appropriateness for standards and criteria for the assessment of literacy for all students in grades K-3.