Sexton Mountain Newsletter
May 2021
Dear Families,
Lastly, thank you for helping us with our new social distancing arrival and dismissal.
State Testing for 3rd, 4th, 5th Graders
Because of the pandemic, the Oregon Department of Education requested a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education that would have allowed school districts to skip state testing this spring. However, the federal government denied that request. Therefore, to maintain our federal funding, the Beaverton School District must offer testing to our students. Parents and guardians have the right to OPT OUT their students from testing.
To maximize in-person instruction time for Hybrid students and to provide testing opportunities for Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) students, we will provide testing opportunities on Wednesdays (asynchronous learning days only) in May and June. Transportation will be provided for students who live one mile (elementary) or 1.5 miles (secondary) from their school.
To help us schedule transportation and deliver a safe and successful testing experience for every student, we need to know by April 30 whether your student will or will not participate. Please complete this form.
Testing Dates and Times
May 12
Grade 3 (Afternoon Session - ELA)
Grade 5 (Morning Session - ELA)
May 19
Grade 3 (Afternoon Session - Math)
Grade 5 (Morning Session - Math)
May 26
Grade 4 (Afternoon Session - ELA)
Grade 5 (Morning Session - Science)
June 9
Grade 4 (Morning Session - Math)
Testing Start/End Times
Morning Session
9:00 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
Afternoon Session
12:45 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a student choose to test?
Test scores provide one piece of evidence of student attainment of state standards.
Will students be penalized or receive a negative grade if they don’t test?
No
Will my child’s school be penalized or receive a negative report card rating if my student doesn’t test?
No. The U.S. Department of Education won’t require the Oregon Department of Education to use summative test data for accountability purposes this year.
Will schools be adhering to the same safety protocols as during In-Person Hybrid Instruction?
Yes. The health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. All safety protocols will be followed including mandatory mask wearing and social distancing.
Who will administer the tests?
School staff who have met training and security requirements will administer the test.
How long is each test?
The Oregon Department of Education has decreased the number of questions in the English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics tests by 40% and removed field test questions from the science test. The estimated testing times are:
English Language Arts (ELA)
1:15 hr.
Mathematics
1 hr.
Science
1:20 hr.
Can my student opt to take one test but not another (for example, take English Language Arts (ELA) but not Mathematics)?
Yes. You determine which, if any, tests your student will take.
My student needs transportation. When will I find out when and where my student will be picked up and dropped off?
Families will receive an email on May 10 with their students’ routes, bus stop locations and pick-up and drop-off times.
When can I expect to receive my child’s test results?
We expect individual overall student test results will be available in ParentVue in August.
Will test results be used to identify students for TAG or Summa?
No. This year’s state test results will NOT be used to identify students for TAG or SUMMA.
School Board Elections
The Communications & Community Involvement Department will host a Candidate Forum on Wednesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. For more information on the candidates running for School Board in the May 2021 election, visit the May 2021 School Board Election webpage. The event will not be livestreamed but posted to the district’s YouTube channel and Facebook page upon its completion.



May Walk + Roll Challenge Week is May 3rd – 7th
Please join Beaverton Safe Routes to School for our final Walk + Roll event of the year! Over 100 prizes will be raffled, and the Wheel Fairy will visit elementary schools to attach an extra prize on any wheels they find in the racks. All students (any grade level, hybrid and CDL) can enter our raffle by completing the May Challenge form. There are five activities to choose from and an extra raffle entry for each activity completed. Find more information at www.beaverton.k12.or.us/safe-routes

One School, One Book: WishTree
