SPECIAL EDUCATION

Options School does not provide any type of Special Education services.

A student with a current IEP will be allowed to have special accomodations for testing.

STANDARIZED TESTING

Options School offers optional standardized testing throughout the school year. 

These tests are offered at no charge for Options students.

IOWA Test of Basic Skills:  (offered to 3rd- 12th grade students)

What is ITBS?

The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, or ITBS for short, are nationally standardized achievement tests that provide a comprehensive assessment of student progress in all the basic educational skills (reading, (including vocabulary, word analysis, reading comprehension, and listening), language, mathematics, social studies, and science.. The primary reason for using a standardized achievement test battery is to gather information that can be used to help improve instruction.

EXPLORE test: (offered to 8th grade students)

What is EXPLORE?
The EXPLORE® program is designed to help 8th graders explore a broad range of options for their future. EXPLORE prepares students not only for their high school coursework, but for their post–high school choices as well. It marks an important beginning for a student's future academic and career success.

Benefits:
As a high school intake measure, EXPLORE® gives educators the means to structure high school planning and career exploration for students and parents. It serves as a baseline to monitor academic progress.
Through EXPLORE, students' strengths and weaknesses can be identified early in their educational development, when they have the greatest opportunity to establish a four-year program of studies that will help them achieve their career and educational goals.

PLAN test: (offered to 10 grade students)

What is the PLAN test?
The PLAN® program helps 10th graders build a solid foundation for future academic and career success and provides information needed to address school districts' high-priority issues. It is a comprehensive guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years.
As a "pre-ACT" test, PLAN is a powerful predictor of success on the ACT. At the same time, many schools recognize the importance of PLAN testing for all students, as it focuses attention on both career preparation and improving academic achievement.
Benefits:
For students, PLAN can:

• stimulate thinking and planning for life after high school
• assess status of academic preparation for postsecondary education
• support meaningful high school course selection for junior and senior years
• relate personal characteristics to educational and career options
• help focus test preparation to improve ACT scores
• provide an estimated ACT Composite score
• increase their likelihood of being contacted by colleges (if they opt in to EOS)

NOTE:  Options School does not provide ACT or SAT Testing. 

ACT: Go to www.actstudent.org to register your student, choose a test date/location, and pay the fee. You can choose to complete the registration online or request that a registration packet be sent to you by mail.

SAT: Go to www.collegeboard.com to register your student, choose a test date/location, and pay the fee. You can choose to complete the registration online or request that a registration packet be sent to you by mail.