Office of Assessment
Statewide assessments support student learning and measure students' academic achievement
- 2023-2024 Assessment Schedule
- Parent Notification Letter of Statewide Assessments
- Policy on the Use of Cell Phones and Electronic Devices
- NHED Guidance on Test Session Duration
- Requirements for Administering the NH SAS
- Waiver Request Form for Non-Credentialed Staff to Proctor the NH SAS
New Hampshire Department of Education Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual - The purpose of this manual is to provide districts and schools with guidance regarding the policies and procedures pertaining to the federal and statewide assessment programs in the State of New Hampshire. Please refer to this manual for guidance on assessment requirements, accommodations, test security and assessment monitoring.
- Technical Assistance: Documenting Testing Exceptions for the Statewide Assessments - NHED has released a new reporting feature as part of the i4see student management system for test coordinators/school administrators to report test incidents, parent opt-outs, and request special considerations waivers for the statewide assessment as well as submit NH SAS special use accommodations.
- Test Security Assurances for Principals - Annual requirement. Signed form is submitted to Assessment@doe.nh.gov.
- Test Security Assurances for Proctors - Annual requirement for testing staff to sign form. School keeps signed form on file unless requested by the NHED for assessment monitoring purposes.
New Hampshire's federal accountability plan provides information on statewide accountability and improvement, educator support, student success, and assistance to our most at-risk youths: New Hampshire Consolidated State Plan.
2020 USCIS Civics Examination Please find the 2020 version of the USCIS exam here, as required by NH statute.
New Hampshire Statewide Assessment Program
Annually, New Hampshire school districts and public charter schools are required by state law (RSA 193-C) and federal accountability laws (Every Student Succeeds Act) to assess students using a standardized assessment. Several assessments, outlined below, are utilized in order to comply with these requirements. One-page description of each statewide assessment.
Statewide assessments are an important part of a student’s core educational program by providing:
- An evaluation of student mastery of content and skills in various academic areas
- Serve as one tool for measuring the degree to which students are on track to graduate high school and are college- and career-ready
- Help inform future instruction in the classroom
Along with student work on classroom assignments, projects, essays and local assessments, state assessment results give teachers, parents, and the community important information about where students are on their path toward academic success.
Participation Requirements
General Guidelines: If the student is able to receive instruction, then he/she is able to participate in the statewide assessment. It is the responsibility of the district to provide timely notification to the parents/guardians of students which statewide assessment will be administered and the timeline for administration.
All students, including students with disabilities and English Learners, are required to participate in all NH statewide assessments scheduled for their grade.
All students must participate in grade-level tests that correspond with the grade in which they are reported in the NHED's i4see student management system. Statewide assessments are not a graduation requirement.
State Assessment Monitoring
Information and resources, including templates, related to the NHED state assessment monitoring program.
New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System (NHSAS)
New Hampshire students participate in the NH SAS, the general statewide assessment, for English language arts (ELA), mathematics and science in the following grades and content areas:
- Grades 3-8 students are assessed in English language arts and mathematics
- Grades 5, 8 and 11 students are assessed in science
- Grade 11 students also participate in the College Board Digital SAT School Day with Essay
SAT School Day
New Hampshire students in grade 11 participate in the College Board state-provided SAT with Essay, as the general statewide assessment, for English language arts and mathematics.
College Board Advanced Placement (AP) - Funding will be available for low-income students who take 2023 AP Exams.
- Access AP resources and tools including AP Classroom through My AP Login.
- Visit the College Board’s AP Central for important updates and deadlines. AP is not a state-required assessment.
Dynamic Learning Maps® (DLM®) Alternate Assessment
New Hampshire offers the Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment for students with the most significant disabilities. Eligible students are assessed in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics and science in the following grades and content areas:
- Grades 3-8 and 11 students are assessed in English language arts and mathematics
- Grades 5, 8 and 11 students are assessed in science
The DLM alternate assessment is computer-based and designed to measure what students with significant cognitive disabilities know and can do. Students with significant cognitive disabilities participate in the alternate assessment, whose participation in the general statewide assessment, even with accommodations, is not appropriate.The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team determines how a student will participate in the statewide assessment. For guidance on decision making, please see Accessibility and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities below.
ACCESS for English Language Learners (ELLs)®
Federal law requires that English learner (EL) students be assessed annually to measure English language proficiency (ELP) in reading, writing, speaking and listening. ACCESS for ELLs is New Hampshire’s approved ELP assessment administered to EL students in Kindergarten through Grade 12.
For English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities, the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, is the state adopted alternate English language proficiency (ELP) assessment. Students who have an IEP that requires administration of the DLM for the general assessment should take the Alternate ACCESS test.
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is also commonly known as "the Nation's Report Card," and is conducted at both the state and national level. This assessment has been focusing on what America's students know and are capable of doing in various subject areas by testing representative samples of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 in public and nonpublic schools since 1969.
To review NAEP results for New Hampshire schools, please go to the Bureau of Educational Statistics
Accessibility and Accommodations
Students with Disabilities
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) teams have the responsibility of making instructional and assessment decisions for each student with a disability. A student's Individual Education Program (IEP) team, reviews guidance found in the Alternate Assessment Decision Making Worksheet to make the decision if a student will participate in the alternate assessment (DLM) or general assessment (NH SAS and/or SAT). Only students with a significant cognitive disability participate in the alternate assessment.
Exemptions
New Hampshire state law permits a parent/legal guardian to exempt their student from participating in any of the required statewide assessments. School districts must ensure a form is provided for a parent/legal guardian to complete and sign in order to exempt their student from participating in the statewide assessment. A school district may use this parent opt-out form template; Spanish version of parent opt-out form template.
If a parent/legal guardian exempts their student, the school district and parent must agree upon an alternative educational activity during the testing period. It is recommended that the agreed upon activity is written on the exemption form that will be signed by the parent/legal guardian and school administrator, along with an acknowledgement statement that the exempted student will not receive an individual score or summary of academic performance based on the statewide assessment.
Special Considerations Waiver
Each year, students with very serious, chronic, and fragile medical or other conditions can and do participate successfully in New Hampshire’s Statewide Assessment Program. However, there are rare and unique situations in which a student is unable to participate in any part of the statewide assessment.
Such decisions must be made with the greatest care and restraint. A special considerations waiver must be submitted to the New Hampshire Department of Education for approval. The special considerations waiver request form is submitted to via the Assessment Roster in the i4see system. Refer to instructions.
New Hampshire Assessment Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
New Hampshire has established a Technical Advisory Committee for the purpose of providing the Department with technical assistance and support across its general assessments.
Contact:
Bureau of Assessment and Accountability