Common Core and State testing programs vary by state.
State Achievement Tests are tests that measure your child’s knowledge and understanding of academic content (i.e. math, reading, English, science, social studies). Students in each grade typically take the same test under the same conditions (i.e. time limits, directions, and testing formats are the same).
These tests are given each year in public elementary and secondary school across the country. By law, schools must administer Achievement Tests or they will not receive federal funding. In addition to federally mandated tests, many school districts give their own proficiency assessments based on local standards.
School Districts in most states are currently transitioning from their own state-based curriculum and Achievement Tests to a new kindergarten – 12thgrade curriculum and assessment program based on “Common Core Standards.” The standards and tests that accompany them are more rigorous and demand a higher level of critical thinking than ever before.
The “Common Core” initiative began in 2009 to bring all those different state curricula into alignment with each other. State educators (in all but five states) have agreed upon a tougher set of curriculum standards that students across the country should know and be able to do. The goal is to ensure that every child gets a high quality education no matter where they live.
Click below to read more about State Testing:
Alabama
Alaska
Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP)
Arizona
Arizona’s Measurement of Educational Readiness to Inform Teaching (AzMERIT)
Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) Science
California
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System (this is how parents usually refer to the test when they call) The CAASP consists of the Smarter Balanced Assessment for Math and ELA. There is also the California Science Test (CAST) for grades 5 and 8. TestingMom.com offers hundreds of sample CAASPP practice test questions to help your child prepare.
Colorado
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS)
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
Connecticut
Delaware
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
District of Columbia
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
Florida
Georgia
Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills
Hawaii
Idaho
Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT)
Illinois
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) Test
Chicago CPS – Classical School Program and Regional Gifted Program
Indiana
Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+)
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress (K-Prep)
Louisiana
Louisiana Educational Assessment Program Test (LEAP)
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).
Maine
Maine Educational Assessments (MEA)
Maryland
Maryland School Assessment (MSA)
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Comprehensiveness Assessment System 2.0
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).
Michigan
Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP)
Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
Minnesota
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)
Mississippi
Mississippi Assessment Program (MAP)
Missouri
Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) Grade-Level Assessments
Montana
Montana Comprehensive Assessment System (MontCAS)
Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
Nebraska
Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) test
Nevada
New Hampshire
Performance Assessment of Competency Education (PACE)
New Jersey
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK) Science Assessment
New Mexico
New Mexico’s Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
New York
New York State Testing Program
North Carolina
North Dakota
North Dakota State Assessment (NDSA)
Ohio
Ohio State Tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies
Oklahoma
Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP)
Oregon
Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS)
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment Tests (PSSA)
Rhode Island
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
South Carolina
South Carolina College-and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY)
South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) Science and Social Studies
South Dakota
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
Tennessee
Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Please note: as of spring 2016, state testing in Tennessee has been suspended for grades 3-8.
Texas
State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Test
Utah
Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence (SAGE)
Vermont
Vermont Common Assessment System (CAS)
New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP)
Virginia
Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests
Washington
Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program
Measurements of Student Progress (MSP)
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
West Virginia
West Virginia General Summative Assessment
Wisconsin
Wyoming