Dear Parents of Third through Ninth graders:

This letter is to let you know about our upcoming International Schools Assessment (ISA).  All students in the third through ninth grades will be taking standardized exams in the morning on February 1^st and 2^nd.  This well-known and reliable Assessment is used by many international schools to provide data on certain aspects of student learning.

One of the most important questions for parents is always, "How is my child doing?"  A related question is "Compared to what?"  This is a particularly critical question for families living away from home, where it is hard to know how schools and standards compare internationally. Below we have listed some important information that will help you to better understand this process.

What is the ISA?

The International Schools' Assessment (ISA) is an annual assessment program that has been specially developed to measure skills in mathematical literacy, reading and writing of students according to internationally accepted standards. The results allow us to compare how our students perform in relation to students at other international schools.

What the ISA is NOT?

The ISA is not a test that students "pass".  It will not be used for purposes other than providing data to us, and to you, and your child about his/her learning. Students do not 'prepare' for the tests, since they are consistent with what students learn on a regular basis.

Who uses ISA?

Over 27,000 students from 110 international schools took the ISA test in October 2009. A further 21,000 students will be administered the ISA in February of 2010.

How will ISY use the results?

As a school, we will analyze the overall results as another of the ways in which we monitor and modify our educational program. These will be one of the 'success indicators' to which we pay attention when planning our curriculum and instruction.

What information will I receive as a parent?

We will pass on all information about your child to you in the form of an individual report. This report is very comprehensive. It will give you a detailed record of your child's performance in mathematical literacy, reading literacy and writing. You will receive them by the end of May. It is entirely your decision as to whether you pass on this information to another school when you leave ISY.

Ways you can help- 

Please make sure your children are well rested and eat breakfast before school so they can perform well on the mornings of the test. Talk positively about the testing and encourage your children to do their best. If you have any questions about the assessments, please feel free to contact the counselors or principals at ISY.

With best regards,

Bill Martin-Muth, ISY Elementary Principal                Jim Gerhard, ISY Secondary Principal