ACT ASPIRE

State Testing Information:
As you may know, the 2012-2013 school year was the last year for the administration of the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test (ARMT). As its replacement, the Alabama State Department of Education adopted the ACT ASPIRE assessment, to be administered to all students in grades 3-8. We are excited about the opportunity to administer this assessment. ASPIRE was developed by ACT, a non-profit organization, with over 50 years of education and workforce experience in assessment, research, information, and program management services. Most will know ACT as the developer of the ACT college admissions and placement test, the most widely used college admissions test in the country, and administered to over 1.6 million students annually.
ACT ASPIRE is a vertically aligned, standards based assessment system, designed to monitor student progress towards college and career readiness. Individual assessments measure academic achievement in the areas of English, math, reading, science, and writing. Alabama has elected to only require the administration of the reading and math tests, while giving local school systems the option to administer the other subject-area assessments. The Shelby County School System has elected to only administer the reading and math tests, and will continue to administer the Alabama Science Assessment to students in grades 5 & 7. A majority of students will take traditional paper/pencil versions of ACT ASPIRE, while others will take the test on computers. The reading test will be administered on Monday, May 5, and the math test will be administered on Tuesday, May 6. The Alabama Science Assessment (Grades 5 & 7) will be administered on Wednesday, May 7. Each test will last approximately one hour. Additional information about ACT ASPIRE may be found at: http://www.discoveractaspire.org/.
*Digital Device Policy:
The possession of a digital device (including but not limited to cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, or other telecommunication devices capable of capturing or relaying information) is strictly prohibited during the administration of a secure test. If a student is observed in possession of a digital device during the administration of a secure test then the device will be confiscated.
If a student is observed using a digital device during the administration of a secure test, testing for the student will cease, the device will be confiscated and is subject to search, the student will be dismissed from testing, and the student’s test will be invalidated.

*ChMS 7th & 8th grade students must not bring their devices to school or must secure them in their lockers before testing begins. 6th grade students are also advised to not bring their devices to school testing days or they will be required to leave in their backpacks in the hallways.