Assessments
At Carmel Clay Schools we believe that no single assessment of academic progress can tell the full story. However, testing can be a helpful tool in assessing whether students are mastering academic standards. Below you will find information on the various assessment tools used at Carmel Clay Schools.
NWEA MAP Growth
Students in grades K-8 take the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments. These assessments are research-based and aligned to the Indiana Academic Standards in mathematics, language usage, and reading and are given three times during the year (fall, winter, and spring). The assessments are computerized adaptive tests that provide us information on the instructional level of each student and the amount of growth that occurs during the school year. The results help us to identify the skills and concepts individual students have learned, diagnose instructional needs, monitor academic growth over time, make data-driven decisions about curriculum, instruction, and resources at the classroom, school, and district levels, and place new students into appropriate instructional programs. During the 2018-2019 school year, Kindergarten students will only be testing in the winter and spring and some schools/grade levels will not be taking the language usage test. Student Progress Reports are sent or carried home by students in the fall and spring.
ILEARN
ILEARN measures student achievement and growth according to Indiana Academic Standards. ILEARN is the summative accountability assessment for Indiana students and assesses:
- English/Language Arts (Grades 3-8)
- Mathematics (Grades 3-8)
- Science (Grades 4 and 6)
- Social Studies (Grade 5)
- Biology (High School)
- U.S. Government – Optional (High School)
IREAD-3
The Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD-3) assessment measures foundational reading standards to Grade 3 students each spring. Based on the Indiana Academic Standards, IREAD-3 is a summative assessment that was developed in accordance with House Enrolled Act 1367 (also known as Public Law 109 in 2010).
IAM
I AM measures student achievement and growth according to Indiana’s Content Connectors aligned to the Indiana Academic Standards. I AM is the summative accountability assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities in grades 3-8 and 10. It assesses:
- English/Language Arts (Grades 3-8 and 10)
- Mathematics (Grades 3-8 and 10)
- Science (Grades 4, 6, and Biology)
- Social Studies (Grade 5)
ISTEP (10th Grade)
ISTEP+ is an assessment that measures student achievement beginning in Grade 10. ISTEP+ assesses student achievement levels in English/Language Arts, and Mathematics according to the Indiana Academic Standards that were adopted by the Indiana State Board of Education. ISTEP+ assesses:
- English/Language Arts
- Mathematics
WIDA Access
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires state education agencies to establish and implement standardized, statewide entrance and exit procedures for English learners (Section 3113). In accordance with federal regulations, all states are required to:
- identify the languages other than English present in their student population;
- assess the language proficiency of students in order to place them in the appropriate language development program; and
- administer an annual assessment of English proficiency, which includes measuring a student’s oral language, reading, and writing skills in English.
The purpose of the English Language Proficiency Assessments is to determine a student's level of English proficiency. WIDA ACCESS is the English Language Proficiency Assessment administered in Indiana. The W-APT placement test (kindergarten) and the WIDA Screener (grades 1-12) function as a screener that is used for both initial and English Language (EL) program placement of students who are identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP). The annual assessment, ACCESS and Alternate Access, is administered to determine a student's current level of English proficiency. The annual assessment is also used for accountability purposes.