Alexandria Community School Corporation
Finds Strength in (automated) Numbers

The Alexandria (Indiana) School Corporation has successfully completed in May 2000 the year’s general assessment tests for all its first through fifth graders in record-breaking time thanks to their new electronic testing system made possible by Test Pilot from ClearLearning. "We were frustrated by the time it took to administer, score and record our paper exams the previous year," stated Diana Haggerty, Title I Coordinator for the Alexandria Community School Corporation. "We’ve calculated that the district was able to redirect more than 600 staff hours back into educating our students by converting to Test Pilot." The new system was a big hit with students, teachers, parents, and administrators. The district now plans to expand its use to high school assessments and other forms of progress testing.

Too Laborious

The Alexandria Community School Corporation contains three elementary schools with a total of 850 students. "In previous years, grading by hand was horrendous," commented Ms. Haggerty. "It took all 10 of the Title I teaching staff approximately a full month to score and record the end of the year assessments." Additionally, classroom teachers needed student achievement results more quickly in order to plan remedial interventions. The Indiana State Auditors also expressed concern about the validity of test results since so many people had been involved in the scoring and reporting process. To ensure greater accuracy, the Auditors suggested that the district incorporate a procedure with more quality control.

Test Pilot Comes to the Rescue

Initially, the Alexandria Community School Corporation considered using a national testing service, but the cost was too high and the Title I program couldn’t make use of those services. The search began for another, more affordable alternative.

"Actually, I had resolved to purchase Test Pilot for another reason altogether when this problem arose," remarked Dan Ice, Technology Coordinator for the Alexandria Community School Corporation. "We were going to utilize the software so that corporation teachers could do their individual assessments on the computers." Mr. Ice had evaluated a number of products before selecting ClearLearning’s Test Pilot. "Money was the driving factor in making assessment decisions for the corporation," he reported. "But I was also looking for a product that was flexible, simple to manage and easy to implement. Test Pilot met all my criteria." Alexandria Community School Corporation paid less than $1000 for using Test Pilot V2 on one server, which was paid using Title I funds.

Implementing the system became a work of collaboration throughout the district. Mr. Ice and Ms. Haggerty spearheaded the project. Title I staff adapted the existing paper tests to the new electronic format (the Title I staff chose to make all tests multiple choice questions). Three high school students worked under Mr. Ice's guidance to program tests -- a language arts and a math assessment for each grade from first through fifth. Test design also took into account the age of the students. For example, the first grade test used bigger fonts throughout and incorporated more illustrations. To accommodate the younger children, the district purchased a special mouse for each computer terminal that makes scrolling up and down easier. "We were pleasantly surprised by how easily the youngest children used the middle button for scrolling," Mr. Ice stated. "Based on this experience, we believe the tests have helped build computer skills as well."

Teachers Buy In

"It was apparent to the core group that there was a need to achieve buy-in from the rest of the teaching staff to make this system work," explained Ms. Haggerty. Once an initial test of the system was conducted, an in-service was offered to teachers explaining the system and allowing them to take the tests. "Through the in-service we were able to answer of all the teachers' questions and concerns. By the time all the teachers had completed the in-service, everyone seemed to be on board."

The system was centrally administered through a Wide Area Network (WAN) and conducted at all three of the district's elementary schools simultaneously. Test data were conveyed through wireless technology to the central office since all the schools were within less than a three-mile area. Scheduling the test administration to allow every class time to take both exams was the hardest problem the district faced. Each child was logged in and assigned a computer in the lab. The test was proctored by classroom teachers and Title I staff.

Once the completed test was submitted by the student, an overall score automatically appeared on the screen giving the student immediate feedback. Teachers also received immediate, aggregated scores for all students in their classes, which gave them time to arrange remedial assistance for students needing extra help in the summer.

Once all the testing was completed, teachers received complete scores and reports for each student showing how well they performed on every developmental section of the test within three days. Comparative data was also available showing how classes compare at all three of the schools and giving year-to-year comparative data for each student.

"We Love It!"

"This year's assessment testing went so smoothly we could hardly believe it," Ms. Haggerty commented. "I’m particularly thrilled about all the staff time and energy saved." Teachers throughout the district are also pleased at the quick turnaround on scores and reports. "Now we get test results in enough time to share them with next year's teachers before the summer break," remarked Linda Lewis, Title I Teacher. Additionally, the tests were administered to 100% of the special education and autistic student body.

Corporation administrators acknowledge the vast improvement in assessment testing and reporting as a result of using Test Pilot. "We chose where to put our dollars very carefully, and we got more than we expected from the return-on-investment," Mr. Ice proclaimed. In fact, the district estimates it was able to redirect more than 600 staff hours back into classroom education, plus a savings of 42,500 sheets of paper, toner and wear-and-tear on copiers.

The students prefer electronic tests to paper tests, too. "I like this test better because I don't have to write down any part of the question and it's easy to go back and forth," said Christopher Rower, a fifth grader at Marie Thurston Elementary School. Teachers report that students are also motivated by the immediate scoring.

Most significantly, the electronic testing system has had meaningful impact on curriculum and instruction. "Now we can look more closely at levels of achievement on an individual student basis and implement lessons that target measurable needs," opined Ms. Haggerty. "Plus, this information has also been influential in selecting textbooks and driving staff development." Mr. Ice added that "conducting electronic assessments using Test Pilot allows teachers and administrators to do what we're supposed to be doing -- focusing on the quality of education each student receives."

Next Steps

"Now everyone is excited by Test Pilot and the data that they can use for planning appropriate student instruction," said Mr. Ice. The development team is already working on improvements to the assessment tests, most notably building in a voice capability to read the questions to first and second graders. Adjustments are also being made to allow students to take the test in sections instead of all at one time to help with scheduling the computer labs and shorten test-taking time for the younger students. Plans are also underway for conducting tracking tests for Title I students four times a year. Teachers throughout the district are looking at ways to use Test Pilot for their own progress testing throughout the year. "With this one product, our district is able to offer teachers a useful resource to improve a wide range of assessment testing," concluded Mr. Ice.