Sample Parent/Guardian Letter Before Testing

NOTE: Before this letter is distributed, be sure to insert the information required in brackets and in bold.

Dear Parents or Guardians:

This spring, your student, along with public school students throughout California, will participate in the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program, which measures how well students are achieving California content standards. State and federal law require that all students participate in this mandated testing program.

Your student’s individualized education program (IEP) specifies that he or she will participate in the STAR Program by taking the California Modified Assessment (CMA). The CMA is a test that has been designed to provide students, who meet the CMA eligibility criteria approved by the State Board of Education, greater access to an assessment based on California content standards (for grades three through five in 2008). [Insert which subject(s) the student will take on the CMA. If the student is to take a CST, indicate which CST also.]

The STAR Program provides valuable information about your student’s academic achievement. It is important, therefore, that students do their best. On testing days, please make sure your student attends school, gets a good night’s rest, and has a healthy breakfast.

Test results for the CMA will be sent to your home address on the STAR Student Report for CMA. Individual results are confidential and will be shared only with parents or guardians and the student’s teacher(s). Please plan to keep these reports for use when talking to teacher(s) about ways to support your student’s academic progress.

Contact [Insert local contact information] during regular school hours if you have questions about the CMA or the testing schedule.

The CMA testing dates for the 2008 STAR Program for our school district are [Insert dates].