Prairie State Achievement Examination

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The Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) is a two-day standardized test taken by all High School Juniors in the U.S. state of Illinois. On the first day, students take the ACT, and on the second day, a WorkKeys examination and Illinois State Board of Education-developed science examination.^[1]. It has been required for all Illinois High School Students since 2001.^[2]

Contents 1 Areas of Assessment 2 Exemptions 2.1 General 2.2 2006-2007 School Year 3 References

[edit] Areas of Assessment

The PSAE attempts to assess students on the following areas^[3]:

• Math
• Reading
• Science
• Writing

[edit] Exemptions

[edit] General

A student is required to take the PSAE to achieve a high school diploma, unless he or she meets one of the following requirements^[1]:

• The student’s Individualized Education Program is incompatible with the PSAE, and the test cannot be modified to comply. In this case, the student takes the Illinois Alternate Assessment instead.
• The student not proficient in English. In this case the student takes the Illinois Measure of Annual Growth in English instead.
• The student is enrolled in an alternative Education program, including an adult education program, or high school equivalency certificates.

[edit] 2006-2007 School Year

A student may be exempted from the 2006-2007 school year examination if he or she meets one of the following requirements:

• The student has taken the ACT after freshman year and achieved reportable scores.
• The student is a Senior and fulfils one of the following requirements:
  • has taken alternative testing
  • was eligible for a medical exemption during the 2005-2006 examination
  • was incarcerated during both the 2006-2007 and 2005-2006 examinations.
  • is a transfer student transferring after May 1, 2006.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Becky McCabe, Division Administrator, Student Assessment Division (August 21, 2006). Memorandum:2006-07 Guidance – Graduation and the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PDF). Illinois State Board of Education. Retrieved on April 20, 2007.
2. ^ Stephen M. Ponisciak (September 2005). [http://ccsr.uchicago.edu/publications/psae_report.pdf Understanding the Prairie State Achievement Exam] (PDF). University of Chicago. Retrieved on April 20, 2007.
3. ^ Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE). Illinois State Board of Education. Retrieved on April 20, 2007.