2012 Standards Based Assessment (SBA)

Students in grades 3-8, 11 -- and, for the first time this year, 10 -- will be required to take the New Mexico Standards Based Assessment after spring break.

APS students will begin taking the 2012 New Mexico Standards Based Assessment when they return from spring break the week of March 19.

This is the eighth year APS students will take the SBA in compliance with state and federal laws.

Who has to take the SBA?

The SBA is given to public and charter school students throughout New Mexico in grades 3-8, 11 and, for the first time this year, 10.

Why do students have to take the test?

The SBA serves several purposes:

• The state-mandated, standardized test is used to assess whether students meet grade-specific state standards.
• The SBA will serve as the high school exit exam for the first time this year. Students in the class of 2013 and beyond will have to pass all parts of the high school SBA by the end of their senior year in order to obtain a high school diploma.

• The state's new A-F school grading system relies heavily on SBA results.

When will my child take the test?

High School: High school sophomores and juniors in will take the SBA during the week of March 26. The schedule for high schools is as follows:

Middle School: Middle school students will take the SBA beginning the week of March 19 and continuing through the week of March 26. The schedule for middle schools is as follows:

Elementary School: Elementary school students in third, fourth and fifth grade will take the SBA beginning the week of March 19 and continuing through the week of March 26. The schedule for elementary schools is as follows:

What subjects are tested?

Elementary and middle school students are tested in reading, math, science and writing.

High school students are tested in reading, math and science. 

Questions are both multiple choice and short answer.

What if a high school student doesn’t pass the test?

High school students will have several opportunities to take and pass all parts of the SBA exit exam. If students reach the end of their senior year and have not passed all sections of the test, they may opt to obtain a high school certificate of completion and return the next year to re-take the failed portions. Students may continue this for up to five years after their graduation date.

The state is developing guidelines for students who don’t pass the exam to use an Alternative Demonstration of Competency as an option for the SBA. A student must take the SBA at least once before using the Alternative Demonstration of Competency. The alternative is a portfolio of the student’s standards-based accomplishments.

Students who don’t pass the exam or submit an acceptable portfolio will not receive a New Mexico high school diploma.

Did this year's seniors have to pass the the high school exit exam?

No, the New Mexico Legislature passed a law last year exempting the class of 2012 from having to pass a high school exit exam.

How can students prepare for short-answer questions?

An examination of APS test scores has found that many students do well on the multiple choice portion of the test. However, many who score at less than proficient levels have done poorly on the short answer portion of the SBA. Some of these students simply choose not to answer these questions, they don’t answer the questions completely, or they don’t support their answers.

One way parents and school staff can prepare students for the SBA is to encourage them to answer all questions on the tests, and to make sure they answer the short questions as completely as possible. It often is helpful, especially on math and science questions, to use graphs, tables and other graphic organizers in responding to short answer questions.

Short answer scores are based on content only; students don’t need to worry about spelling or punctuation.