Prairie State Achievement Examinations 2012

On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 24-25, all juniors will take the Prairie State Achievement Examination to determine how well they are meeting Illinois Learning Standards. Stevenson will run special schedules each day because of the testing. (See the adjacent box for more schedule information.)

Click here for room assignments for juniors taking the PSAE.

Click here for information on the special afternoon program for freshmen.

Click here for information on the special afternoon program for sophomores.

Please keep in mind the following:

 • All school rules will be in effect both days.

 • ACT and the Illinois State Board of Education prohibit the use of cell phones in testing rooms.

• All students must remain on campus during the morning class hours unless they have off-campus privileges — even if it is their lunch period. Students in cancelled junior classes must remain on campus.

 • Students without off-campus privileges may leave campus after morning classes on buses or with their parents. If a student is leaving before noon, parents must call the Attendance Office prior to picking up their students, and students must sign out in the Attendance Office prior to leaving.

• Walkers, as noted on their ID cards, may leave at noon on designated day.

 • No temporary parking permits will be issued.

 • Bus service will run each day after testing and at 3:25 p.m.

The PSAE is a battery of tests covering four content areas — reading, mathematics, science and writing — that are part of the Illinois Learning Standards. During the first day of testing, all juniors will take the ACT, which includes multiple-choice English, mathematics, reading and science tests. On the second day, they take a science test developed by the State Board of Education with assistance from Illinois teachers, and two ACT-developed WorkKeys tests, Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information. Juniors will receive an ACT score as well as individual PSAE designations in each of the tested areas.

The PSAE is an important exam, for the following reasons:

It’s the law. A state law passed in August 2005 makes taking the PSAE a graduation requirement for Illinois students. Also, the federal No Child Left Behind Act requires all students in every state to meet minimum standards by 2013-14. Illinois has created a definition and timeline to determine whether a school, district and the state are making adequate yearly progress toward the goal. As a result, the PSAE has become a high-stakes test for students and for schools, which will be penalized for failing to meet standards.

Colleges will see your student’s scores. Students’ final transcripts will include the content area scores and any awards earned on the PSAE. Colleges will see your student’s scores. Students can receive a Prairie State Achievement Award in each subject tested by earning qualifying scores set by the Illinois State Board of Education. Most colleges will accept the ACT score from the PSAE.

The Stevenson staff is very familiar with the Illinois Learning Standards, has aligned our curriculum, and provides test preparation integrated with coursework to help our students be successful on these tests. Juniors are also encouraged to take advantage of tutorials and review materials available in our learning centers now in preparation for these exams.

Stevenson will run special schedules on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 24-25, to accommodate juniors taking the PSAE.

The special schedules will optimize the testing environment for our juniors, and will minimize the disruption to our regular instructional program. Both of these days are considered regular attendance days and all school rules apply. 

Freshmen, sophomores and seniors will attend periods 1-4 on Tuesday while juniors test from 8:05 a.m. to noon. Freshmen and sophomores, as on regular schedule days, will not be allowed to leave campus until the first bus run after all four periods of classes are over. On Wednesday we will run periods 5-8 in the morning during junior testing.

For freshmen, one of the two days will be a full day, as they will also be participating in A World Of Difference training on one of the two afternoons. The other day, freshmen will be released after morning classes. The World Of Difference schedule will be assigned based on freshman advisories. Half of the advisories will meet on Tuesday and the other half on Wednesday. (Click here for details.) A World of Difference is an anti-bias/diversity education program that helps students explore prejudice and bigotry; improve critical-thinking skills; examine diverse viewpoints; and take leadership roles. All freshmen participate in A World of Difference on the afternoons of the Prairie State Achievement Examinations.

Sophomores will participate in activities coordinated by the Student Services Division. (Click here for details.) Half of the sophomore class will attend each afternoon. Juniors will be released after testing both days, and seniors will be released after they attend the shortened class schedule both days. No temporary parking permits will be available on these days. Bus service will run after testing each day and at 3:25 p.m.

The official school day ends at 3:25 both days and no cell phones may be used on campus until then.