Students at Humanex Academy are evaluated shortly after enrollment in order to help provide information regarding their current grade level abilities, as well as their academic strengths and weaknesses. The information from these initial assessments helps the teachers develop an effective curriculum for each student and provides current information about the student’s learning strengths and deficiencies for both the student and the family. The goal of the assessment is to help each student understand his or her learning style and strengths in order to enjoy learning, become, a life-long learner and enjoy the learning process.
Students begin the assessment process through an informal examination of their neurological strengths and weaknesses. Students answer orally presented questions to help determine learning styles and to increase their understanding of how they learn and use information. The following tools are also used to better understand the student’s educational needs:
- The Quick Neurological Screening Test (QNST-II) is used as a tool to screen the students for neurological signs that may indicate learning difficulties. This assessment covers areas such as fine/gross motor skills, visual and spatial organization, and balance and attention issues. The results of the various subtests can display a pattern that may provide clues to both learning disabilities and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
- The Worker Behavior Assessment is an informal tool that is completed by discussing many of the skills that are critical to both school and employment. This test focuses on three areas of work performance: attendance/endurance, independence and learning.
- True Colors is an assessment of personality traits. This reflective tool helps students better understand their personality style and how they are viewed by others. This helps both the student and the teacher to better understand the student’s unique needs in the classroom.
- The San Diego Quick Reading Assessment is an opportunity to informally observe each student’s behavior during the decoding aspect of reading. It is a quick gauge of word recognition and decoding skills. The scores help to identify a student’s independent, instructional and frustration reading levels.
- The Test of Adolescent and Adult Language (TOAL-3) helps to measure students’ language ability. It compares their scores with students of similar ages and determines areas of strength or weakness in terms of language skills. The TOAL-3 is comprised of eight subtests that measure receptive and expressive language, vocabulary and grammar in both spoken and written language. In addition, the subtest scores are combined to indicate students’ ability levels in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
- The Wide Range Achievement Test-Expanded Edition Math subtest measures math concepts, problem-solving and operations. This test also assesses math reasoning abilities instead of testing isolated math skills.
The staff at Humanex Academy works from the philosophy that test scores are one indication of a student’s abilities. They are merely an overview of the student’s functioning levels at that point in time. Test scores are considered in combination with data from the parents, previous schools and student history to help deliver instruction in the way that will best meet the needs of each student.