The board voted at its October meeting to approve performance categories for test items that assess student achievement in fine arts and physical development and health that are part of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). Students complete the items in grades 4 and 7 as part of the ISAT assessments. Grades 9 and 10 have totally voluntary assessments in each area.

The scores on these topic areas fall into four performance levels: Academic Warning, Below Standards, Meets Standards and Exceeds Standards. The board voted on "cut scores" that determine the score range for performance level.

State Superintendent Glenn W. M^CGee said, "Setting the performance levels for the fine arts and physical development and health is an important step in moving toward full implementation of the Standards across the board in all our schools."

In grades 4 and 7, each student takes a selection of the total number of items for fine arts and physical development and health. That does not provide enough information to get individual student results, but des tell schools and districts how well their students are performing relative to the Standards.

Students who take the grade 9 and 10 tests take a complete assessment of fine arts and physical development and health. Because the high school-level test is voluntary, the pool of participating schools may not be representative of the whole state, so statewide results cannot be calculated. They are available only for grades 4 and 7.

More information on the ISAT is available online at isbe.state.il.us/assessment/isat.htm.