Assessments
2024-2025 Assessment Calendar
Fall
| Date | Assessment | Grade Levels |
|---|---|---|
| August 26 - September 13, 2024 |
NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Reading & Math |
Grades 3 - 8 Span Bil Grade 6-8 |
| August 26 - September 13, 2024 |
Students Take the Full Reading & Math Battery Reading (***English & Spanish SORF) Math (in one language only) ***EL/DL students who are newcomers OR score less than a 2.0 on ACCESS or the MODEL Screener will not take the Aimsweb Reading Battery for their first benchmarking trimester. They will only take the Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) Assessment. For subsequent benchmarks, the EL teacher and classroom teacher can determine if the Aimsweb Reading Battery would be appropriate for the students to take based on linguistic growth. EL teachers can administer the MODEL Screener reading portion to the student to determine reading growth. |
Grade 2
|
| August 26 - September 13, 2024 |
AIMSWEB (If <30% on NWEA) AIMSWEB math battery in Spanish for students who score <30% in NWEA |
Grades 3-8 Span Bil Grade 6-8 (as needed) |
|
August 26 - September 13, 2024
|
Early Literacy & Early Numeracy K Literacy: Letter Naming Fluency, Letter Word Sound Fluency K Numeracy: Number Naming Fluency, Quantity Total Fluency, Concepts & Applications 1 Literacy: Nonsense Word Fluency, Word Reading Fluency, Oral Reading Fluency 1 Numeracy: Math Fact Fluency 1 Digit, Number Comparison Fluency, Concepts and Applications |
Dual Language K-1
|
|
August-October, 2024 |
Kindergarten Development Survey (KIDS) |
Kindergarten |
|
September 23 - October 17, 2024 |
Panorama SEL Survey (student/parent) |
Grade K-8 |
|
October 1 - 18, 2024 |
PACT8 | Grade 8 |
|
October 8 - 30, 2024 |
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) |
Grade 5 |
|
October 8 - 30, 2024 |
Teaching Strategies Gold |
All Preschool |
K-8 District Literacy Formative/Instructional Assessments:
- K-2 Literacy Scope and Sequence with Assessments
- 3-5 Literacy Scope and Sequence with Assessments
- 6-8 On-Demand Writing Assessments
Winter
| Date | Assessment | Grade Levels |
|---|---|---|
| December 3 - 20, 2024 |
NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) |
Grades 3-8 Span Bil Grade 6-8 Parent Reports Sent: 1/17/25 |
| January 13 - 31, 2025 |
Early Literacy & Early Numeracy K Literacy: Letter Naming Fluency, Letter Word Sound Fluency K Numeracy: Number Naming Fluency, Quantity Total Fluency, Concepts and Applications 1 Literacy: Words Reading Fluency, Oral Reading Fluency 1 Numeracy: Math Fact Fluency 1 Digit, Number Comparison Fluency, Concepts and Applications |
Grades K - 1 (All Students)
Dual Language K-1 |
| January 13 - 31, 2025 |
Students Take the Full Reading & Math Battery Reading (***English & Spanish SORF) Math (in one language only) ***EL/DL students who are newcomers OR score less than a 2.0 on ACCESS or the MODEL Screener will not take the Aimsweb Reading Battery for their first benchmarking trimester. They will only take the Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) Assessment. For subsequent benchmarks, the EL teacher and classroom teacher can determine if the Aimsweb Reading Battery would be appropriate for the students to take based on linguistic growth. EL teachers can administer the MODEL Screener reading portion to the student to determine reading growth. |
Grade 2
|
|
January 7 - 24, 2025 |
AIMSWEB PLUS (If <30% on NWEA) AIMSWEB math battery in Spanish for students who score <30% in NWEA |
Grades 3 - 8 Dual Language Grade 3-5 Span Bil Grade 6-8 (as needed) |
|
State: January 16 (earliest) -March 6, 2025 (latest)
|
Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS) |
Grades K-8 students who qualify for EL services |
|
January 13 - 24, 2025 |
Panorama SEL Survey (student/parent) |
Grade K-8 |
|
January 13 - February 6, 2025 |
Teaching Strategies Gold | All Preschool |
|
March 3 -March 21, 2025 |
Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) |
Grades 5 and 8 |
|
April 1 - 17, 2025 |
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) | Grades 3-8 |
|
March 12 -May 9, 2025 |
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) |
Grades 3-8 |
District Formative/Instructional Assessments:
- K-5 Writing Pre and Post On-demands by Unit
- 6-8 Writing On-Demand Pre-Assessments by Unit
- K-5 Reading Running Records *Varies by Grade Level
- *New for the 23-24 School Year (previously in January)
Spring
| Date | Assessment | Grade Levels |
|---|---|---|
|
April 14 - 25, 2025 |
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) |
Grade 2 |
|
April 29 - May 9, 2025 |
NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) NWEA Reading in Spanish |
Grades 3- 7 Span Bil Grade 6-7 |
|
April 29 - May 9, 2025 |
AIMSWEB PLUS (If <30% on NWEA) AIMSWEB math battery in Spanish for students who score <30% in NWEA |
Grades 3 - 8 Special Education Students with Reading/Math Goals Span Bil Grade 6-8 (as needed) |
|
April 29 - May 9, 2025 |
Students Take the Full Reading & Math Battery Reading (***English & Spanish SORF) Math (in one language only) ***EL/DL students who are newcomers OR score less than a 2.0 on ACCESS or the MODEL Screener will not take the Aimsweb Reading Battery for their first benchmarking trimester. They will only take the Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) Assessment. For subsequent benchmarks, the EL teacher and classroom teacher can determine if the Aimsweb Reading Battery would be appropriate for the students to take based on linguistic growth. EL teachers can administer the MODEL Screener reading portion to the student to determine reading growth. |
Grade 2 Special Education Students with Reading/Math Goals |
|
April 29 - May 9, 2025 |
Early Literacy & Early Numeracy K Literacy: Letter Naming Fluency, Letter Word Sound Fluency K Numeracy: Number Naming Fluency, Quantity Total Fluency, Concepts and Applications 1 Literacy: Words Reading Fluency, Oral Reading Fluency 1 Numeracy: Math Fact Fluency 1 Digit, Number Comparison Fluency, Concepts and Applications |
Grades K - 1 (All Students)
Dual Language K-1 |
|
April 28 - May 9, 2025 |
Panorama SEL Survey (student only) |
Grade K-8 |
|
May 5 - 30, 2025 |
Teaching Strategies Gold | All Preschool |
|
May 12 - May 23, 2025 |
Dual only: EDL2 Spanish Reading Assessment |
Dual Language Grade K-5 |
District Formative/Instructional Assessments:
- K-5 Writing Pre and Post On-demands by Unit
- 6-8 Writing On-Demand Pre-Assessments by Unit
- K-5 Reading Running Records *Varies by Grade Level
State Assessments
- ACCESS
- Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
- Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)
- Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)
- Kindergarten Individual Readiness Survey (KIDS)
ACCESS
Administered to all eligible English Language Learners yearly in winter.
ACCESS is given annually and measures students’ progress towards academic English proficiency in four domains: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Information from this assessment is used to determine levels and areas of language support. It is also used as a summary tool for school accountability in the State of Illinois.
Students take ACCESS on their iPads on the WIDA app.
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
Administered to 3-8 students with significant cognitive abilities yearly in spring.
The Dynamic Learning Maps assessments are for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities for whom general state assessments are not appropriate, even with accommodations. DLM assessments offer these students a way to show what they know and can do in English language arts, mathematics, and science.
Students take this assessment on their iPads on the KITE app.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)
Administered to 3-8 grade students yearly in spring.
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is the state assessment and accountability measure for Illinois students enrolled in a public school district. IAR assesses the Illinois Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core and is administered to students in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Students take this assessment on their iPads on the TestNav app.
Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)
Administered to 5th and 8th grade students yearly in spring.
|
In compliance with federal testing requirements, Illinois administers a science assessment to students enrolled in a public school district in grades 5, 8 and 11. The assessment is administered in an online format and is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Science incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which were adopted in 2014. Students take this assessment on their iPads on the ISBE Teach app. |
Kindergarten Individual Readiness Survey (KIDS)
Administered to all kindergarten students yearly in fall.
The Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) is an observational tool designed to help teachers and administrators better understand the developmental readiness of children entering kindergarten. KIDS is core to the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) goal that every child in Illinois deserves to attend a school wherein all kindergarteners are assessed for readiness. KIDS focuses on the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that most impact long-term student success. This assessment takes place within the first forty days of the Kindergarten school year.
KIDS focuses on the knowledge, skills, and behaviors across four key domains that most impact long-term student success. The domains are: Approaches to Learning and Self-Regulation; Social and Emotional Development; Language and Literacy Development; and Cognition: Math.
District-Level Assessments
- AIMSWeb Plus
- Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
- Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Progress (MAP)
- Panorama SEL Questionnaire
AIMSWeb Plus
A benchmark assessment given in the fall, winter and spring to students in K-2.
AIMSWEB is a benchmark and progress monitoring assessment in reading and mathematics used to evaluate math and literacy skills.
AIMS is one of the many tools that District 34 uses to determine students’ instructional levels as well as to monitor the progress they are making throughout the school year and from year to year at the primary level.
Students are given AIMSWeb benchmark assessments in kindergarten and first grade one-on-one with an instructor and on their iPads on the TestNav app in second grade.
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
Administered to 2nd grade students in spring and 5th grade students in fall.
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a standardized test designed to measure learned reasoning and problem solving skills. These abilities, acquired both in and out of school, are important because children use them on a daily basis to learn and solve problems. Students take CogAT on their iPads on the Data Manager app.
CogAT is used to aid in placement for advanced math and reading programming.
Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Progress (MAP)
A benchmark assessment given in the fall, winter and spring to 3-8th grade students.
NWEA MAP is a normed referenced achievement test in reading and mathematics to reveal precisely which academic skills and concepts the student has acquired and what they’re ready to learn.
Computer adaptive MAP assessments are grade independent and adapt to each student’s instructional level. Every item on a MAP assessment is anchored to a vertically aligned equal interval scale, called the RIT scale for Rasch UnIT—a stable measurement, like inches on a ruler, that covers all grades. RIT scores serve as an essential data point in a student’s learning plan; educators can see their precise learning level and respond accordingly.
MAP is one of the many tools that District 34 uses to determine students’ instructional levels as well as to monitor the progress they are making throughout the school year and from year to year.
Students take NWEA on their iPads on the NWEA app.
Panorama SEL Questionnaire
Administered to all students K-8 in fall, winter and spring.
The Panorama Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Questionnaire measures student mindsets, behaviors, and attitudes that might be related to success in school and beyond the classroom. These surveys are designed to help educators understand the social-emotional competencies of their students and how they are supported in classrooms and schools. In K-2 teachers fill out the survey and in 3-8 students fill out the survey.