Assessment Plan
The staff of Cornerstone Prep is committed to data-driven
instruction throughout its educational program. It is the belief of Cornerstone Prep that evaluations based
on student achievement data is far more effective than evaluation based on
theoretical research or mere anecdote.
As a result, Cornerstone Prep will administer, at a minimum, the
Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) test, (a criterion-based
measure of proficiency), the Terra Nova, (a national norm-referenced test to
measure longitudinal growth of a cohort of students), and Regular Assessment
Program (RAP) tests to measure student progress.
Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP)
Cornerstone Prep administers the TCAP tests each year beginning
in grade 3. Cornerstone Prep uses
the TCAP tests, a criterion-referenced assessment, to evaluate the
effectiveness of the educational program as described in the Accountability
Plan.
TCAP scores are used by the state to determine that Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) has been met across all qualified demographic groups and to
determine the School Accountability Report ranking. TCAP scores are used by Cornerstone Prep to determine if
proficiency goals as stated in the Accountability Plan have been met.
Nationally Norm-Referenced Tests
Cornerstone Prep administers the Terra Nova, a nationally
norm-referenced independent test of basic skills at the conclusion of each
school year The test is also used in the summer prior to entering school for
all students entering Cornerstone Prep after kindergarten,. As described in the Accountability
Plan, Cornerstone Prep will demonstrate consistent student improvement on these
assessments by cohort and by average gains of multiple cohorts in national
percentile points. Cornerstone Prep will also demonstrate longitudinal growth
for cohorts of students, identified and tracked over multiple years.
Teacher Made Assessments
Another aspect of the Cornerstone Prep assessment
system is the Teacher Made Assessment. These tests are standards-based,
internal assessments given during each of the six-week reporting periods during
the school year.
During the staff Professional Development training, teachers
at Cornerstone Prep examine the content to be covered over the course of the
year and divide this material into six separate, six-week units. The curriculum charts serve as a
template for this process.
From
these charts demonstrating standards alignment, teachers develop tests in six
discrete sections to assess intermediate progress on the specific elements of
the course curriculum. Because teachers prepare these tests directly from
Cornerstone Prep standards which are aligned with and derived from state and
national standards, the tests directly align with Tennessee State Standards.
The process of developing and standardizing these tests, as
well as the alignment, is closely monitored by the Principal, ensuring that
these rigorous tests accurately evaluate mastery of Cornerstone Prep standards.