Montgomery Schools Use CPS For Benchmark Tests

-For Immediate Release 4/9/2009

Some folks just know how to stir things up....and that's a good thing!

Montgomery School district recently decided to tackle two problems at once.  1) The cost to the district of paper and 2) time involved in obtaining results from benchmark testing.

Benchmark tests have taken center stage as school districts strive to meet the challenge of identifying students that need more instruction.  But, in the quest to obtain more data and information in order to improve education, schools are dealing with massive amounts of paper!

That's where Montgomery's Technology Director, Niketa Dean, and Curriculum Director, Dr. Thompson, got smart!

They sought answers and solutions. What they found was CPS!

The benchmark tests that Montgomery is using were secured from a well-known publisher.  In order to deliver the test, the schools had to print massive amounts of paper for students to answer questions. THEN, they had to wait for the results.

When the Classroom Performance System first came to their attention it was because schools were using it to engage students daily in formative assessment. When Mrs. Dean and Dr. Thompson realized that the same CPS student response system could be used to collect answers from individuals with instant feedback, they were excited by the prospects.

Eight schools in Montgomery were selected for a Pilot Project.  The goal? Save paper AND improve delivery of results so teaching could be modified based on the needs of the students.

The first project was a success!  Students answered questions after reading the stories for their benchmark reading test.  On average 32 questions were delivered to the students, one question at a time being projected for their viewing.  Paper was saved and students results were instantly available for administrators to view.

The next project will involve letting students go at their own pace to answer questions, an exclusive feature of the Classroom Performance System.  While paper tests will be printed, students will use an answer sheet and then 'click' their responses so that the data is collected and analysis reports will be immediately available upon conclusion of the test.

The types of data that Dr. Thompson and other administrators will be able to view immediately include Assessment Summary of Individual Student Results,  Class and Individual Question Reports as well as an Item Analysis by State Standards.  The paper test will remain unmarked to be used again the next year.

"This is not only one of the most exciting projects I've been involved with, I am sincerely impressed by the dedication and interest the Montgomery County School administrators and technology team have shown in getting this project implemented in the schools. It's a pleasure to know they do care to make a difference!"  said Roxanne Batson, their CPS Consultant. 

West Martin, Mur Feldman and Roxanne Batson have provided support by being at the schools for their first benchmark project and have pledged to continue to help Montgomery Schools assure academic progress for their students.

As Ms. Batson stated "The Montgomery School District is a leader in helping educators go green! We're so proud of them!"

--For more information contact the Clicker People at 800-637-0279.