Waterloo students to take extra tests

Many students in the Waterloo district are getting some extra tests in hopes of improving their performance. All elementary students in the district are retaking the reading and math portions of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in a few weeks. Their scores won’t count toward academic achievement as the tests are being given for practice in hopes the students can improve their reading and math skills for the real tests in the fall. Some schools in the Waterloo district are on the watch list for not meeting national educational standards. Administrators plan to use information from the spring tests to help students prepare for the fall tests.