Assessments

PARENT'S RIGHT TO REQUEST INFORMATION ON ASSESSMENTS: 

Parents or guardians of students in Title I schools (like our school) have right to request information regarding any State or local educational agency policy regarding student participation in any Federal, State, or locally required assessments, which shall include a policy, procedure, or parental right to opt the child out of such assessment, where applicable.

Required State Assessments, administered in spring:

• SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium)

  • TYPE: SUMMATIVE, to assess proficiency compared to grade level expectations

A computer adaptive assessment of English Language Arts and Math proficiency relative to grade level with open-ended constructed response questions included. Families receive Individual Score Reports in summer after spring assessments. School-wide, WSWSU-wide and state-wide results are released in Fall following spring assessments. 

• SBAC English Language Arts grades 3-9

• SBAC Math grades 3-9

• Vermont Science Assessment (VTSA) grades 5, 8 and 11

• Alternative SBAC ELA and Math (for students with certain special needs)

• WiDA Consortium Assessments for English Language Learners (required by VT AoE)

  • WiDA (World Class Instructional Design and Assessment) Screener: for all new English language learners (with another first language and possible limited English proficiency) within 30 days of enrollment to determine needs for services

  • WiDA ACCESS for ELLs: Annual summative assessment of English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing to inform possible support services

Common Local Assessments

• FAST (Formative Assessment System for Teachers)

  • TYPE: BENCHMARK, to assess baseline and progress that predicts success or risk level for struggle in grade-level learning

All students take FAST benchmark assessments in Reading and Math, which are mostly computer adaptive or timed assessments totalling 20-25min for most students, except younger students who also take some one on one oral assessments with teachers. FAST benchmark assessments predict a student’s risk for struggling to learn at grade level (High Risk, Some Risk, Low Risk or College Pathway).

• FASTtrack Reading (grades 2-12)

• FASTtrack Math (grades 2-12)

• Early Reading (K-1)

• Early Math (K-1)

For some students:

• CBM (Curriculum Based Measures Reading; for progress monitoring of students with High/Some Risk)

• CBM Math (Curriculum Based Measures Math; for progress monitoring of students with High/Some Risk) 

WSWSU teachers use FAST assessments along with other classroom assessments to inform discussions of supports and differentiation for students.

• IXL (K-8, optional by school)

  • TYPE: DIAGNOSTIC and/or PRACTICE, to identify gaps in skills or to assign targeted standards-based practice

K-8 Schools and teachers in WSWSU have the option to use the IXL platform to diagnose gaps in students skills (10-20min/week), and/or to assign standards-based practice on a particular learning outcome.

• IXL Reading, diagnostic and targeted standards-based practice

• IXL Math, diagnostic and targeted standards-based practice

• Read Live Naturally (K-8, optional by school for targeted learning intervention)

K-8/elementary schools and teachers in WSWSU have the option to use the Read Live Naturally platform to support students struggling to read at grade level with targeted learning opportunities addressing their specific needs.

• TYPE: INTERVENTION for students struggling to read at grade level