From Wednesday fifth to Monday tenth, Animo Jefferson eighth graders took the Green Dot Performance Task for their English class.

According to English teacher Teresa Vorgias, “This test mimics what we (Green Dot) believe the Smarter Balance Assessment will look like.  The Smarter Balance Assessment is what California will use in lieu of CSTs since we are no longer being tested in English or Math.”

Eighth grade student Sandy Torres stated, “The questions are easy and you just need time to think about them.”

Students prepared for this assessment by annotating and practicing using a separate example that simulates the Green Dot Performance Task.

Unlike Animo Jefferson, the other Green Dot Middle Schools will take the Green Dot Performance Task around Spring Break. This performance task is given only to the Green Dot schools not the LAUSD district. Although, the actual test, Smarter Balance Assessment, will be taken by all eighth grade students in all districts.