Nevada Selects CTB/McGraw-Hill and the Grow Network/McGraw-Hill to Provide State Assessments and Parent/Teacher Reports

CTB/McGraw-Hill's TerraNova™, Third Edition (TerraNova 3) was selected by Nevada for its annual norm-referenced tests in reading, language, math and science in Grades 4, 7, and 10 as part of the Nevada Proficiency Examination Program (NPEP). In addition, Premier Home Reports will be produced by The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill to enable parents and teachers to have clear, accessible information about their students' achievement on these assessments.

Under the four-year agreement with a renewal option, TerraNova 3 will be administered to approximately 100,000 students in Nevada each winter. TerraNova 3, the only norm-referenced assessment available with 2007 norms, is aligned to Nevada content and performance standards. As part of the contract, The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill will produce Premier Home Reports for both parents and teachers. These reports offer individualized home activities based on a student's specific needs in each subject and Web resources to continue the learning process at home. Nevada educators will also receive TerraNova group reports by class, school, district, region (Clark County) and state.

"This contract supports our continuing efforts to move Nevada to a standards-based educational system. As mandated by the Nevada State Legislature and State Board of Education, we are committed to developing an assessment system that accurately measures student progress toward meeting the Nevada Academic Standards," said Keith Rheault, Superintendent of Instruction for Nevada. "We also want to enable both parents and teachers to receive high- quality assessment reports that clearly illustrate student learning and achievement."

"We are proud to support Nevada's efforts to provide parents, teachers, administrators and policymakers with information on Nevada students' progress at the individual level as well as in comparison to their peers across the country. Our goal is to provide tools and academic resources that enhance student achievement and help parents remain engaged in their students' education," said Mostafa Mehrabani, president, McGraw-Hill Assessment and Reporting, comprising CTB/McGraw-Hill and The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill.

Nevada statute requires that norm-referenced tests be used to validate student performance on the High School Proficiency Examination and Criterion Referenced Tests. Containing 2007 norms, TerraNova 3 was developed using a nationally representative sample of students in grades K-12, and aligns with state and national standards in all content areas. It reflects state NCLB assessments in item format and content, helping educators accurately measure students' skills relative to standards. To preserve Nevada's longitudinal information on assessments, CTB/McGraw-Hill will conduct a linking study that equates Nevada's current norm-referenced test to the new TerraNova 3.

Under the agreement, CTB/McGraw-Hill will also coordinate with the Nevada Department of Education to provide up to eight pre-test professional development workshops for educators each year.

About CTB/McGraw-Hill

As the nation's leading publisher of standardized and standards-based achievement tests for pre-school, elementary, middle, high school, and adult education, CTB/McGraw-Hill LLC offers a broad range of assessments, software and services. CTB/McGraw-Hill LLC is part of the Assessment and Reporting group of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP). McGraw-Hill Education is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. Additional information is available at www.ctb.com

About The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill

Established in March 2000, The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill has quickly become a nationally recognized leader in educational assessment reporting. The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill's innovative patent-pending system offers dynamic reports and differentiated learning tools in print and online for families, teachers, and educational leaders. The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill is part of the Assessment and Reporting group of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP). Additional information is available at http://info.grow.net/

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SOURCE: CTB/McGraw-Hill

CONTACT: Kelley Carpenter
Director, Communications
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kelley_carpenter@mcgraw-hill.com

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