This document provides basic information about the Statewide Student Assessment System in New Mexico. There are four components of the Statewide Student Assessment System that are guided by the State Department of Education. Each component serves a specific purpose and targets specific grade levels. The purpose of the reading assessment of grades 1 and 2 is to determine reading proficiency. Each local school district determines the methods of assessing students' progress in reading in these grades. The second component, the New Mexico Achievement Assessment Program, is administered to all students in grades 3 through 9 in the content areas of reading/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The norm-referenced test used for this purpose is the CTBS5/TerraNova Survey Plus with a custom supplement test booklet for New Mexico. Together, these tests provide performance-level data about student progress toward the state's standards. The New Mexico Writing Assessment Program is a direct, on-demand assessment for student in grades 4 and 6. Districts have the option of using a version of this assessment for grade 8. The New Mexico High School Competency Examination is a criterion-referenced test. Passing this examination is a requirement for public high school students in New Mexico. Some information is also provided about exemptions from the testing program, test security, and using test results. (SLD)