What is the ACRE? Since the late 1970's NCEA has offered assessment instruments designed to strengthen catechetical/religious education programs. The ACRE (Assessment of Children/Youth Religious Education) helps schools, parishes and diocesan leaders evaluate the faith knowledge and attitudes of students in Catholic schools. As an integrated assessment tool, ACRE provides faith knowledge questions (cognitive domain) and questions related to religious beliefs, attitudes, practices, and perceptions (affective domain).
How is the ACRE part of the Strategic Plan? In the Archdiocese of Seattle, we implemented Religion Standards in 2014. The newly vetted Secondary Standards are now available to our high school theology teachers for courses 1-6. Our strategic plan calls for the final piece of this puzzle: a nationally normed test that assesses the religious and theological preparation of our students.
Who receives the results? The local site, parish or Catholic school, will receive a group report for each ACRE leveled assessment used in a school. To assist in local professional development planning, leaders at both the school and diocese level can also request a composite summary report of all NCEA ACRE participating schools and parishes in the (arch)diocese. As a multilevel, age-appropriate tool, NCEA ACRE in our Archdiocese of Seattle will be administered in grade 5 (Level 1) and grade 8 (Level 2).
How are the tests administered?
Schools may choose either the on-line or the paper/pencil option. The paper/pencil option allows schools to engage in a process to align standards at each grade level with the assessment.
Grades 5 and 8 test annually for the ACRE Religion Assessment. We test in the month of April. The 2017-2018 ACRE Testing window is April 9 - 30. To order, you will need to refer to your NCEA membership number. You receive a membership card each year with your number. If you cannot find your membership number, contact NCEA at 1-800-711-6232 or call us in the Office for Catholic Schools. We do have this information.
When your school is ready to order, please go online to: http://ncea.caltesting.org/. A credit card is not required to order materials online, schools can choose to receive an invoice.
Cost to Implement:
Paper/Pencil Option
- $2.80 per student answer sheet per year
- $1.25 per student booklet (current booklet - revised in 2015 in alignment with the six tasks of catechesis)
- Shipping – $10.00 to $20.00 depending on the number of students
- Response – Two to four weeks depending on the time of year
On-Line Option
- $3.25 per student per year
- No shipping cost
- Response – Automatic and immediate
- Find out more about the online format at: http://ncea.caltesting.org/acrePortal.html
Overview Brochure available for download:
https://ncea.caltesting.org/docs/2015IFG-ACREbrochure.pdf
NOTE: National statistics comparisons for Schools and Parishes at grades 5, 8, 9, 11 and 12, and according to the time of year the students sat for the IFG: ACRE Assessment, are available on our website: http://ncea.caltesting.org/docs/IFG-ACRENationalScores2014-2015.pdf
Our liaison is Kelly Wagner – Office Manager
Educational Testing Service
1202 East 23rd Street, Suite D
Lawrence, KS 66046
Ph: 866-406-3850 ext. 101
Fax: 785-856-3852
NOTE: As of 6/1/17, Educational Testing Service, has purchased Computerized Assessments & Learning, LLC. (CAL Testing)
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