New Mexico currently administers four assessments, and is developing new ones. Test information is provided to schools by the contractor. The test is not recommended for making decisions about students, but solely for program evaluation. No school level consequences are attached. Students have the option to retake the HSCE at grade 11 or 12 a maximum of four times prior to exit from high school, and five years after high school.
Writing is to an SEA prompt, with two hours to respond.
While the assessment is aligned with previous state standards, the state recognizes it is inadequate for measuring some aspects of the new standards, and it will be revised. The writing assessment is used for diagnosis, improvement of curriculum and instruction, program evaluation, and school reporting. Students work toward them over the next four months. Teachers and students jointly select the one best piece, which is sent to a private company for scoring using a rubric developed by teachers, the SEA and a contractor. No individual or school stakes are attached to this assessment.