CIRCLE Progress Monitoring Assessment (CPM or CLI)
Purpose: This assessment is a comprehensive, research-based assessment tool developed by the Children's Learning Institute and provided through CLI Engage. It is designed to evaluate the development of Pre-K 4 students across multiple domains essential for school readiness.
Description: This tool assesses various domains, including language and communication, early literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional development, physical health, and approaches to learning. Teachers administer this assessment individually to students.
Frequency: This assessment is given at the beginning, middle, and at the end-of-the-year.
Source of Requirement: The TEC §29.169 mandates that schools use specific progress monitoring instruments for prekindergarten students, including the Circle Progress Monitoring System.
Results: Teachers have access to student results immediately. Student assessment results are printed and sent home with students within 30 days of administration along with any recommendations for interventions.
Report Card Assessment
Purpose: This report card assessment is given to monitor students progress and keep parents informed.
Description: This tool assesses various domains, including language and communication, early literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional development, physical health, and approaches to learning. Teachers administer this assessment individually to students.
Frequency: This assessment is given towards the end of each 9 week period.
Source of Requirement: The district requires this assessment of knowledge and skills.
Results: Teachers have access to student results immediately. Student assessment results sent home with students at the end of each nine week period along with any requests for parent/teacher conferences.
What is Circle KPM?
The Circle Kindergarten Progress Monitoring System (KPM)—formerly known as TX-KEA—is a tool used by kindergarten teachers in Texas to check in on your child’s skills throughout the school year. Developed in partnership with the Texas Education Agency and UTHealth Houston, it helps teachers understand where your child is thriving and where they might need a little extra support.
Purpose: This assessment is given to ensure early identification of students who may need additional instructional support and to provide data that guides effective, targeted instruction in the early grades.
Frequency - When is it Administered?
Teachers track progress across three main checkpoints during the year:
BOY (Beginning of Year): Acts as a kindergarten entry assessment and literacy screener to give teachers an early look at incoming skills.
MOY (Middle of Year): Checks growth mid-way through the school year.
EOY (End of Year): Measures overall progress and includes a state-required Dyslexia Screener.
What Does KPM Check?
Rather than focusing on just one area, KPM looks at several key domains to give a complete picture of your child’s development:
Language & Literacy: Vocabulary, listening skills, letter names, letter sounds, blending sounds, decoding words, and spelling.
Math & Science: Early math concepts, problem-solving, and basic science concepts.
Social-Emotional & Executive Functioning: How well your child manages emotions, stays focused, follows multi-step directions, and interacts with peers.
How Are the Checks Done?
Assessments are quick, child-friendly, and woven into regular school routines:
Computer/Tablet Tasks: Students listen through headphones and tap picture answers on a screen.
Teacher Activities: The teacher sits with your child for quick verbal or written tasks (like reading words out loud or spelling on paper).
Classroom Observation: Teachers complete short observational checklists based on daily classroom interactions.
Results: Teachers have access to student results immediately. Student assessment results are printed and sent home with students within 30 days of administration along with any recommendations for interventions.
How to Understand Your Child's Results
Scores are color-coded to make progress easy to track:
Green (On Track): Your child meets or exceeds age-appropriate expectations.
Yellow (Monitor): Your child is close to the benchmark and may benefit from extra practice.
Red (Support): Your child is below expectations and will receive targeted help from the teacher.
Source of Requirement: The requirement for the Texas Kindergarten Entry Assessment (TXKEA) comes from House Bill 3 (HB 3), passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019. HB 3 mandates that all Texas public school districts administer a kindergarten reading or language screener approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) within the first 20 school days of the year. TXKEA is one of the TEA-approved assessments that districts can choose to meet this requirement.
MAP Growth
Purpose: The purpose of the MAP Growth test is to measure a student’s academic progress and growth over time in subjects like reading and math. It provides teachers with detailed, individualized data to identify each student's strengths and areas for growth, helping to inform instruction, set goals, and track progress throughout the school year.
Description: MAP Growth Reading and Math Assessments are adaptive, meaning that questions get more difficult when students answer correctly and less difficult when answered incorrectly. This adaptiveness helps determine whether students are at, on, or above grade level. In Kindergarten the assessment is given on a tablet. It is designed to measure what students know and what they are ready to learn next.
MAP Growth Reading assesses skills such as vocabulary, word recognition, reading comprehension, and literary and informational text analysis.
MAP Growth Math evaluates number sense, computation, algebraic thinking, geometry, and data analysis.
Because the test adapts to each student's responses, it provides a personalized assessment experience, giving educators detailed insight into student learning levels in both subjects. This data helps guide instruction and monitor academic growth throughout the year.
Frequency: MAP growth assessments are given at the beginning of the year, at the start of the second semester, and at the end of the year. Each subject is untimed but takes on average 30-45 minutes to complete.
Source of Requirement: This assessment is not state required. MAP Growth assessment is given in addition to TX-KEA to gain a more detailed, nationally normed measure of student performance and growth in reading and math. While TX-KEA provides a snapshot of school readiness and early foundational skills, MAP Growth offers ongoing, in-depth data to track progress throughout the year and tailor instruction to meet each student’s individual needs.
Results: Results are available to teachers within 24 hours. Student assessment results are printed and sent home with students within 30 days of administration along with any recommendations for interventions.
Dyslexia Screening
Purpose: In Texas, kindergarten students are screened for dyslexia primarily to ensure early identification and intervention, crucial for the development of reading skills.
Description: The Texas Dyslexia Handbook requires that the skills of letter sound knowledge or letter name fluency and phonological awareness be assessed on the kindergarten dyslexia screener. To meet this requirement, students will be screened using TX-KEA. This assessment is administered by the student's classroom teacher.
Frequency: The Kindergarten dyslexia screener is administered at the end-of-the-year.
Source of Requirement: Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.006 requires schools to administer early reading instruments to all students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2.
Results: If a student is determined to be at risk, parents will be notified by letter. Parents will be informed of the recommendations to address their reading difficulties for their child: an accelerated reading program, close monitor the students progress, teacher interventions, or other strategies.
Report Card Assessment
Purpose: This report card assessment is given to monitor students progress and keep parents informed.
Description: This tool assesses various domains, including language and communication, early literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional development, physical health, and approaches to learning. Teachers administer this assessment individually to students and may include results from a previous assessment such as the TXKEA/CLI assessment.
Frequency: This assessment is given towards the end of each 9 week period.
Source of Requirement: The district requires this assessment of knowledge and skills.
Results: Teachers have access to student results immediately. Student assessment results sent home with students at the end of each nine week period along with any requests for parent/teacher conferences.
Texas Primary Reading Inventory - TPRI
Purpose: The purpose of TPRI is to identify students' reading strengths and areas needing support, allowing teachers to provide targeted instruction and monitor progress over time.
Description: This assessment is a research-based assessment designed to measure the development of early reading skills in students from kindergarten through 2nd grade. It evaluates key areas such as phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, decoding, reading fluency, and comprehension. It is given one-on-one to students. The administration time can vary depending on how the student progresses through the assessment, however, the TPRI is designed to minimize administration time while providing instructionally relevant information.
Frequency: This assessment is given at the beginning, middle, and at the end-of-the-year.
Source of Requirement: The Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI) is administered in accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.006, which mandates that public schools assess the reading proficiency of students in kindergarten through second grade. This statute requires schools to use a commissioner-approved reading instrument or one selected by a district-level committee to evaluate students' reading development. TPRI is one such approved instrument and is commonly used to fulfill this requirement
Results: Teachers receive results immediately. Parents receive a printed copy of student assessment results which are sent home with students within 60 days, as is required by law, along with any recommendations for interventions.
MAP Growth
Purpose: The purpose of the MAP Growth test is to measure a student’s academic progress and growth over time in subjects like reading and math. It provides teachers with detailed, individualized data to identify each student's strengths and areas for growth, helping to inform instruction, set goals, and track progress throughout the school year.
Description: MAP Growth Reading and Math Assessments are adaptive, meaning that questions get more difficult when students answer correctly and less difficult when answered incorrectly. This adaptiveness helps determine whether students are at, on, or above grade level. In Kindergarten the assessment is given on a tablet. It is designed to measure what students know and what they are ready to learn next.
MAP Growth Reading assesses skills such as vocabulary, word recognition, reading comprehension, and literary and informational text analysis.
MAP Growth Math evaluates number sense, computation, algebraic thinking, geometry, and data analysis.
Because the test adapts to each student's responses, it provides a personalized assessment experience, giving educators detailed insight into student learning levels in both subjects. This data helps guide instruction and monitor academic growth throughout the year.
Frequency: MAP growth assessments are given at the beginning of the year, at the start of the second semester, and at the end of the year. Each subject is untimed but takes on average 30-45 minutes to complete.
Source of Requirement: This assessment is not state required. MAP Growth assessment is given in addition to TX-KEA to gain a more detailed, nationally normed measure of student performance and growth in reading and math. While TX-KEA provides a snapshot of school readiness and early foundational skills, MAP Growth offers ongoing, in-depth data to track progress throughout the year and tailor instruction to meet each student’s individual needs.
Results: Results are available to teachers within 24 hours. Student assessment results are printed and sent home with students within 30 days of administration along with any recommendations for interventions.
Dyslexia Screening
Purpose: In Texas, first grade students are screened for dyslexia primarily to ensure early identification and intervention, crucial for the development of reading skills.
Description: The Texas Dyslexia Handbook requires that the skills of letter sound knowledge or letter name fluency and phonological awareness be assessed on the first grade dyslexia screener. To meet this requirement, students will be screened using CLI Engage platform. This assessment is administered by the student's classroom teacher in collaboration with a certified dyslexia therapist.
Frequency: The first grade dyslexia screener is administered no later than January 31st.
Source of Requirement: Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.006 requires schools to administer early reading instruments to all students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2.
Results: If a student is determined to be at risk, parents will be notified by letter within 30 days of administration. Parents will be informed of the recommendations to address their reading difficulties for their child: an accelerated reading program, close monitor the students progress, teacher interventions, or other strategies.
Unit, Module and Course Assessments
Purpose: A module or unit test is to evaluate student learning, identify areas where reteaching may be needed, and guide future instruction. It also helps teachers monitor progress toward grade-level goals and provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the content.
Description: These assessments measure how well students have understood and can apply the knowledge and skills taught during that particular module/unit.
Frequency: A module or unit test is an assessment given at the end of a specific set of lessons focused on a particular topic or standard. These are determined by the specific teacher and course.
Source of Requirement: The school district requires that each course assesses students knowledge of what is taught in that particular class.
Results: Unit or module assessment results grades and information will be made available by the teacher via the ParentPortal Gradebook and printed information may be sent home with students.
Texas Primary Reading Inventory - TPRI
Purpose: The purpose of TPRI is to identify students' reading strengths and areas needing support, allowing teachers to provide targeted instruction and monitor progress over time.
Description: This assessment is a research-based assessment designed to measure the development of early reading skills in students from kindergarten through 2nd grade. It evaluates key areas such as phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, decoding, reading fluency, and comprehension. It is given one-on-one to students. The administration time can vary depending on how the student progresses through the assessment, however, the TPRI is designed to minimize administration time while providing instructionally relevant information.
Frequency: This assessment is given at the beginning, middle, and at the end-of-the-year.
Source of Requirement: The Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI) is administered in accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.006, which mandates that public schools assess the reading proficiency of students in kindergarten through second grade. This statute requires schools to use a commissioner-approved reading instrument or one selected by a district-level committee to evaluate students' reading development. TPRI is one such approved instrument and is commonly used to fulfill this requirement
Results: Teachers receive results immediately. Parents receive a printed copy of student assessment results which are sent home with students within 60 days, as is required by law, along with any recommendations for interventions.
MAP Growth
Purpose: The purpose of the MAP Growth test is to measure a student’s academic progress and growth over time in subjects like reading and math. It provides teachers with detailed, individualized data to identify each student's strengths and areas for growth, helping to inform instruction, set goals, and track progress throughout the school year.
Description: MAP Growth Reading and Math Assessments are adaptive, meaning that questions get more difficult when students answer correctly and less difficult when answered incorrectly. This adaptiveness helps determine whether students are at, on, or above grade level. In Kindergarten the assessment is given on a tablet. It is designed to measure what students know and what they are ready to learn next.
MAP Growth Reading assesses skills such as vocabulary, word recognition, reading comprehension, and literary and informational text analysis.
MAP Growth Language evaluates a student's understanding and application of foundational language skills such as grammar and usage, mechanics, writing strategies, and editing skills.
MAP Growth Math evaluates number sense, computation, algebraic thinking, geometry, and data analysis.
Because the test adapts to each student's responses, it provides a personalized assessment experience, giving educators detailed insight into student learning levels in both subjects. This data helps guide instruction and monitor academic growth throughout the year.
Frequency: MAP growth assessments are given at the beginning of the year, at the start of the second semester, and at the end of the year. Each subject is untimed but takes on average 45-60 minutes to complete.
Source of Requirement: This assessment is not state required. MAP Growth assessment is given in addition to TX-KEA to gain a more detailed, nationally normed measure of student performance and growth in reading and math. While TX-KEA provides a snapshot of school readiness and early foundational skills, MAP Growth offers ongoing, in-depth data to track progress throughout the year and tailor instruction to meet each student’s individual needs.
Results: Results are available to teachers within 24 hours. Student assessment results are printed and sent home with students within 30 days of administration along with any recommendations for interventions.
Unit, Module and Course Assessments
Purpose: A module or unit test is to evaluate student learning, identify areas where reteaching may be needed, and guide future instruction. It also helps teachers monitor progress toward grade-level goals and provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the content.
Description: These assessments measure how well students have understood and can apply the knowledge and skills taught during that particular module/unit.
Frequency: A module or unit test is an assessment given at the end of a specific set of lessons focused on a particular topic or standard. These are determined by the specific teacher and course.
Source of Requirement: The school district requires that each course assesses students knowledge of what is taught in that particular class.
Results: Unit or module assessment results grades and information will be made available by the teacher via the ParentPortal Gradebook and printed information may be sent home with students.
MAP Growth
Purpose: The purpose of the MAP Growth test is to measure a student’s academic progress and growth over time in subjects like reading and math. It provides teachers with detailed, individualized data to identify each student's strengths and areas for growth, helping to inform instruction, set goals, and track progress throughout the school year.
Description: MAP Growth Reading and Math Assessments are adaptive, meaning that questions get more difficult when students answer correctly and less difficult when answered incorrectly. This adaptiveness helps determine whether students are at, on, or above grade level. In Kindergarten the assessment is given on a tablet. It is designed to measure what students know and what they are ready to learn next.
MAP Growth Reading assesses skills such as vocabulary, word recognition, reading comprehension, and literary and informational text analysis.
MAP Growth Language evaluates a student's understanding and application of foundational language skills such as grammar and usage, mechanics, writing strategies, and editing skills.
MAP Growth Math evaluates number sense, computation, algebraic thinking, geometry, and data analysis.
Because the test adapts to each student's responses, it provides a personalized assessment experience, giving educators detailed insight into student learning levels in both subjects. This data helps guide instruction and monitor academic growth throughout the year.
Frequency: MAP growth assessments are given at the beginning of the year, at the start of the second semester, and at the end of the year. Each subject is untimed but takes on average 30-45 minutes to complete.
Source of Requirement: This assessment is not state required. MAP Growth assessment is given in addition to TX-KEA to gain a more detailed, nationally normed measure of student performance and growth in reading and math. While TX-KEA provides a snapshot of school readiness and early foundational skills, MAP Growth offers ongoing, in-depth data to track progress throughout the year and tailor instruction to meet each student’s individual needs.
Results: Results are available to teachers within 24 hours. Student assessment results are printed and sent home with students within 30 days of administration along with any recommendations for interventions.
State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness - STAAR
Purpose: The STAAR test designed to ensure students are meeting state curriculum standards and are prepared for the next grade level.
Description: In 3rd grade students take the Reading/Language Arts and Math STAAR tests. The STAAR test for each subject assesses students proficiency on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) which are the standards that are taught for each course.
Frequency: The STAAR test is administered at the end-of-the-year online within a two week window for each subject. Each test is designed to be completed within 4 hour, however student have until the end of the school day to complete the test.
Source of Requirement: In Texas, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test is mandated by law, specifically the Texas Education Code (TEC) §39.023(a). This law requires all students in grades 3-8 to be tested at their enrolled grade level. Additionally, federal and state laws require all students to take STAAR EOC assessments at least once for federal accountability purposes
Results: Families can view the results online via the parent portal as soon as the State makes them available, typically mid/late June.
Unit, Module and Course Assessments
Purpose: A module or unit test is to evaluate student learning, identify areas where reteaching may be needed, and guide future instruction. It also helps teachers monitor progress toward grade-level goals and provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the content.
Description: These assessments measure how well students have understood and can apply the knowledge and skills taught during that particular module/unit.
Frequency: A module or unit test is an assessment given at the end of a specific set of lessons focused on a particular topic or standard. These are determined by the specific teacher and course.
Source of Requirement: The school district requires that each course assesses students knowledge of what is taught in that particular class.
Results: Unit or module assessment results grades and information will be made available by the teacher via the ParentPortal Gradebook and printed information may be sent home with students.
MAP Growth
Purpose: The purpose of the MAP Growth test is to measure a student’s academic progress and growth over time in subjects like reading and math. It provides teachers with detailed, individualized data to identify each student's strengths and areas for growth, helping to inform instruction, set goals, and track progress throughout the school year.
Description: MAP Growth Reading and Math Assessments are adaptive, meaning that questions get more difficult when students answer correctly and less difficult when answered incorrectly. This adaptiveness helps determine whether students are at, on, or above grade level. In Kindergarten the assessment is given on a tablet. It is designed to measure what students know and what they are ready to learn next.
MAP Growth Reading assesses skills such as vocabulary, word recognition, reading comprehension, and literary and informational text analysis.
MAP Growth Language evaluates a student's understanding and application of foundational language skills such as grammar and usage, mechanics, writing strategies, and editing skills.
MAP Growth Math evaluates number sense, computation, algebraic thinking, geometry, and data analysis.
Because the test adapts to each student's responses, it provides a personalized assessment experience, giving educators detailed insight into student learning levels in both subjects. This data helps guide instruction and monitor academic growth throughout the year.
Frequency: MAP growth assessments are given at the beginning of the year, at the start of the second semester, and at the end of the year. Each subject is untimed but takes on average 30-45 minutes to complete.
Source of Requirement: This assessment is not state required. MAP Growth assessment is given in addition to TX-KEA to gain a more detailed, nationally normed measure of student performance and growth in reading and math. While TX-KEA provides a snapshot of school readiness and early foundational skills, MAP Growth offers ongoing, in-depth data to track progress throughout the year and tailor instruction to meet each student’s individual needs.
Results: Results are available to teachers within 24 hours. Student assessment results are printed and sent home with students within 30 days of administration along with any recommendations for interventions.
State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness - STAAR
Purpose: The STAAR test designed to ensure students are meeting state curriculum standards and are prepared for the next grade level.
Description: In 4th grade students take the Reading/Language Arts and Math STAAR tests. The STAAR test for each subject assesses students proficiency on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) which are the standards that are taught for each course.
Frequency: The STAAR test is administered at the end-of-the-year online within a two week window for each subject. Each test is designed to be completed within 4 hour, however student have until the end of the school day to complete the test.
Source of Requirement: In Texas, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test is mandated by law, specifically the Texas Education Code (TEC) §39.023(a). This law requires all students in grades 3-8 to be tested at their enrolled grade level. Additionally, federal and state laws require all students to take STAAR EOC assessments at least once for federal accountability purposes
Results: Families can view the results online via the parent portal as soon as the State makes them available, typically mid/late June.
Unit, Module and Course Assessments
Purpose: A module or unit test is to evaluate student learning, identify areas where reteaching may be needed, and guide future instruction. It also helps teachers monitor progress toward grade-level goals and provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the content.
Description: These assessments measure how well students have understood and can apply the knowledge and skills taught during that particular module/unit.
Frequency: A module or unit test is an assessment given at the end of a specific set of lessons focused on a particular topic or standard. These are determined by the specific teacher and course.
Source of Requirement: The school district requires that each course assesses students knowledge of what is taught in that particular class.
Results: Unit or module assessment results grades and information will be made available by the teacher via the ParentPortal Gradebook and printed information may be sent home with students.