Assessment Overview
In Huntley 158, assessments are essential to a student’s learning experience as they help us design instruction by targeting students’ individual needs. It’s important to remember that any one assessment alone does not tell a student’s full learning story. Instead, Huntley 158 educators utilize information obtained from a variety of local and state assessments to monitor student progress, measure effectiveness of strategies and curriculum, and set goals for the future. This is all achieved through a partnership with students, parents, and educators, with the sole goal of meeting the needs of all students always. The information below summarizes the district and state assessments currently administered, as well as provides additional information regarding interpreting scores.
Local Assessments
Assessment | Purpose | Dates |
---|---|---|
AimsWeb Literacy & Math | An assessment administered to all K-5 students and select 6-12 students, in order to better identify specific strengths and areas of support for foundational math and literacy skills. | Fall Winter Spring |
STAR Reading and Math | An assessment administered to all K-11 students in order to better identify specific strengths and areas of support in student learning of reading and math standards. Note, this assessment replaced NWEA MAP in 2020. | Fall Winter Spring |
BESS | An assessment administered to all PK-12 students that helps provide additional insight into our students’ social-emotional and behavioral needs and identify those who may be at risk of future difficulty in school. | Fall Winter Spring |
CogAT | An assessment administered to all 2nd grade and select 3rd-5th grade students in order to measure a student’s verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning and problem-solving skills. This assessment is one assessment utilized to help determine a student’s gifted identification. | Winter |
myIGDIs | An assessment administered to all Pre-School students in order to better understand student strengths and areas of support for early math, literacy, and fine motor needs. | Fall Winter Spring |
State Assessments
Federal law requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to administer assessments to all students who attend public schools in the state.
Assessment | Purpose | Dates |
---|---|---|
ACCESS | The ACCESS test is the annual assessment for all K-12 English Learners (ELs) in the State of Illinois. ACCESS scores are used to assess student progress and proficiency in English as well as to help determine placement in the EL program the following school year. | Jan – March |
DLM | The DLM is the annual assessment for all 3rd-12th grade students eligible for the alternative assessment in the areas of reading/language arts, mathematics, and science. | Mar 16 – May 4 |
IAR | The IAR is the annual achievement assessment for all 3rd-8th grade students for reading/language arts and mathematics. | Apr 11-22 |
ISA | The ISA is the annual achievement assessment for all students in 5th, 8th, and 11th grade for science. | Mar 14-18 |
KIDS | The KIDS assessment is an annual assessment of all Kinder students in order to better understand students’ abilities when they begin their first year of school. | Fall |
PSAT & SAT | Students must take an achievement exam in reading/language arts and mathematics in high school. In Illinois, high school students in grades nine through eleven take either the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, or the SAT (11th Grade). | Apr 13 |