By Lori EhdeElementary Principal Stacy Gillette told School Board members at their Thursday, April 14, meeting that Luverne students had performed well on Basic Standards Tests."I’m happy to say that we have improved in all of our Basic Standards Tests," Gillette said.She said 98 percent of Luverne’s students passed the writing test (up from 92 last year), 91 percent passed the reading test (up from 86 percent last year) and 89 percent passed the math test (up from 85 percent last year).Sophomores take the writing test, and eighth-graders take the reading and math tests.Students with independent education programs (IEPs) can be exempt from the Basic Standards Tests. But all students must take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Tests, which count for the Adequate Yearly Progress, a measurement of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.Gillette said students are taking the MCAs this week in third, fifth, seventh, 10th and 11th grades.Students in fourth, sixth and eighth grades are taking pilot tests to practice.New testing technologyGillette also brought to the board’s attention Thursday new testing software that may replace the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in schools.Produced by the Northwest Evaluation Association, it’s a computer program that tests students in math, reading and language skills, and provides instant results on outcomes.Gillette said it’s an effective tool for measuring student progress because it adjusts according to how the student performs. "If they get a question right, then the next one is more difficult," Gillette said. "High-achieving students will be challenged by these tests, and those students who are frustrated by other tests will also be able to achieve."She said the program can be effective for testing students who are new to the district to see where they’re at in 10th-grade math, for example, or first-grade reading.Also, she said it’s effective for districts to compare their progress to local, state and national averages, and it allows students to test quarterly to chart progress."It pinpoints what areas your students need to work on," Gillette said, adding that it’s effective for one-on-one measurement as well. "Student progress reports can be printed for parents at conference time."Despite the possibility for quarterly testing, students never see the same question twice because the program draws from a database of thousands of questions, which are updated every two years.They were first released three years ago, and now more than 230 schools already use the system.Gillette presented the program to the board only for their information.In other business Thursday …Music Boosters President Alex Miller told the board about a successful fund-raiser for band and choir chairs.The community was invited to purchase chairs at $68 each, with plaques being placed on each chair to recognize the donor.Miller said the fund-raiser resulted in more than $1,900 in contributions. "That’s quite a few people who came forward to say they’d be willing to purchase a chair," he said.While this was an independent effort by the Music Boosters, Miller said the group would work more closely with the School Foundation on future fund-raising efforts.Board member Cary Radisewitz thanked Miller and the Booster Club for their efforts.