Dear Parents and Guardians:

This letter is to notify you that the NYS CBT (New York State Computer Based Testing) for students in grades 3-8 will begin soon. There are three assessments, one for English Language Arts, one for Science (Grades 5 & 8 only),  and one for Math.  Each assessment is given in two parts on separate days.  If a student misses either of the scheduled assessment days, they will take the missed part when they return to school. The testing window each day will be from 8:15 AM-10:10 AM.

As always, we encourage all students to do their very best on everything they do in school.  You can help by ensuring that your child gets a good night’s rest and arrives at school on time on the day of the assessment.

Please make sure Chromebooks are charged.

Each year Liberty Middle School students participate in the NYS CBT Simulation in January which allows teachers, staff and students to familiarize themselves with the CBT framework, features, tools, accommodations and sample questions, so that they are comfortable during the actual assessment.

If you’d like to see what the NYS CBT looks like please visit:
https://ny.nextera.questarai.com/tds/#practice

Liberty Middle School will administer NYS Computer-Based Testing (CBT), which means that students will complete the NYS Assessments on their Chromebooks. Computer Based Testing will allow us to get test results back sooner.  Results will be shared with parents as soon as we receive them.

The NYS ELA Assessments will be administered on the following dates:

• Day 1 – Wednesday, April 10, 2024
• Day 2 – Thursday, April 11, 2024

The NYS Math Assessments will be administered on the following dates:

• Day 1 – Tuesday, April 23, 2024
• Day 2 – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The NYS Science Grades 5 & 8 Assessments will be administered on the following dates:

• Day 1 – Tuesday, May 7, 2024
• Day 2 – Wednesday, May 8, 2024

ENL Students will be taking the:

• NYSESLAT Speaking:
  • LMS Dates: April 15 – April 17, 2024
• NYSESLAT Listening, Reading, Writing:
  • LMS Dates: May 13 – May 15, 2024

We know that no single test provides a complete picture of a child’s ability, and any type of placement at LMS is based on multiple data points. We combine multiple measures, including classroom performance, classroom assessments and district assessments, along with the NYS assessments to make informed instructional decisions for all students.

If you so choose, parents can write and submit a refusal letter for their child from taking the NYS CBT Math, Science, or ELA tests, three days prior to the test date, you must send that in writing with your signature, via paper or email to mkristiansen@libertyk12.org.

Students will not be allowed to refuse testing on the day of the test. Students will not be allowed to take a partial test one day, then refuse another day. We do not encourage refusals.

Our LMS School Wide WIG (Wildly Important Goal)

When students take their STAR Assessment in Reading in May 2024, 80% of all LMS students will improve their current SGP (Students Growth Percentile) by 35 points or more to show that they are at or above their grade level in reading.

Twice a year, during DEAL/LIM (Drop Everything And Lead/Leader in Me) students also receive their Instructional Planning Student Report after their STAR testing to review their data. They use their data to write their own WIG (wildly important goal) to improve their reading.

• 2024 WIG Slideshow
• STAR Renaissance Family Resources
• HMH Growth Measures

Testing schedule for both the STAR and HMH assessments.

• September 19 & January 22 & May 28 STAR Reading
• September 21 & January 24 & May 30 STAR Math
• September 12 & January 16 & May 13 HMH ELA Growth Measure
• September 12 & January 16 & May 13 HMH Math Growth Measure

Sincerely,

Heather Cheh

Liberty Middle School Principal