State Testing Preparation Checklist for Schools

This comprehensive checklist is designed to help schools create optimal testing environments and ensure a smooth state testing period. By addressing these key areas, administrators, teachers, and staff can work collaboratively to support student success.

Planning and Preparation

• Develop Optimal Testing Environments:

Teachers and coaches have established a clear plan to optimize testing conditions in every classroom.

• Create Backup Plans:

Academic leaders and coaches have prepared contingency plans for unforeseen disruptions, such as student illness, behavioral incidents, or emotional challenges.

• Mitigate Controllable Disruptions:

The school team has outlined steps to manage preventable interruptions, such as announcements, drills, or maintenance activities, ensuring a calm and focused testing environment.

Student-Teacher Alignment

• Strategic Testing Group Assignments:

Student-teacher testing groups are thoughtfully designed to pair students with teachers who can maximize engagement and encourage best-effort participation throughout the test.

Administrative Leadership and Visibility

• Enhanced Administrator Presence:

Administrators have planned for increased visibility before, during, and after testing to provide support and actively monitor the process.

• Observation Adaptations:

Administrator observation checklists have been adjusted to reflect and address the specific demands of the testing period.

Daily Schedule Adjustments

• Support for Student Well-being:

The school day schedule has been modified to accommodate testing needs, ensuring all students have access to school transportation, breakfast, and pre-testing routines.

Teacher Training and Classroom Activities

• Pre-Test and Post-Test Activities:

All teachers are trained to guide students through pre-test focusing exercises and post-test decompression activities to support mental readiness and emotional well-being.

• Post-Test Learning Continuity:

Teachers have plans in place to maintain productive teaching and learning activities after testing concludes for the day.

Student Support Systems

• Daily Check-ins with Mentors:

Adult mentors and assigned “lightning rods” have scheduled daily meetings with target students to ensure they are emotionally ready and motivated to perform their best during the test.

By implementing this checklist, schools can create a structured, supportive, and disruption-free testing environment, maximizing performance and ensuring smooth execution throughout the testing period.