Avoid ‘summer slide: Make your child’s assessment results part of your summer plans

Parents and guardians of students in grades 3-8 should ask for printed copies of reports soon.

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Water Park Slide 7955
This is an example of a good ‘summer slide’ – versus the academic kind! Photo/Creative Commons

CONCORD, NH – The 2017-2018 school year will be ending in a few weeks for most students in New Hampshire and families will be making plans for the summer. But the arrival of balmy weather, excursions, and other fun activities shouldn’t mean the process of learning ends. In fact, it should be just the opposite – especially for students in need of help in specific subject areas. 

Part of the continuation of a student’s learning process is for parents and guardians to be empowered with information – including their child’s assessment scores. The New Hampshire Department of Education wants parents and guardians to know that many of the results for the New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System (NH SAS) in English/Language Arts and Math are available now. Families that haven’t received their child’s individual assessment results yet should contact their local school district and request them.

Frank Edelblut at Executive Council Confirmation Hearing
NH DOE Commissioner Frank Edelblut encourages parents and guardians to communicate with school districts about the assessment results as soon as possible. Courtesy photo

Students in grades 3 through 8 took the English/language arts and math assessments this year; students in grade 5, 8, and 11 took the new statewide science assessment (results from the science test won’t be available until the fall since it is the first time this test has been given to students). Grade 11 students also took SATs this year and those results are available on the College Board website (SAT results can also be mailed to you by the College Board). 

The 2017-2018 school year was the first time students were involved in the NH SAS instead of the Smarter Balanced assessment. Part of the transition was implemented in order to align the assessment with New Hampshire specific content and graduation standards. The change also moved the entire process online, shortened the length of the assessments, and provided immediate student score results to schools.

NH DOE Commissioner Frank Edelblut strongly encourages parents and guardians to communicate with school districts about the assessment results as soon as possible in an effort to extend the learning process into the summer. 

“Families can help students avoid the ‘summer slide’ with some simple activities like reading to your child, finding them age appropriate books to read, and engaging in activities that will nourish their minds,” he said. “The assessment results will help parents focus on what is most needed for their child.”

Local school districts are encouraged to send assessment reports to families as soon as they are available. Parents and guardians who haven’t received the results should contact their school district to ensure that they are as prepared as possible for extended student learning this summer.

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