Description of District Assessments
The chart below provides information about each of the assessments given to students across the district. The first column identifies the name of the assessment and a link to a website to provide more information. The next columns identify the type of assessment, the grade level(s) when given, and when it would be administered to students. Information is also provided in a brief description of the assessment and how the data will be used. If you have any questions regarding the assessments, please contact us.
| Assessment | Type | Grade Level | Description of why the Assessment is given and how the data is used | Administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) |
Universal Screener | K-6 |
Measures help teachers to determine how students are performing on important reading skills. The critical skills necessary for successful beginning reading include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. |
Fall, Winter, Spring |
|
Acadience |
Universal Screener | 1-6 | Acadience Math comprises measures of early numeracy, computation and problem-solving that function as indicators of the essential mathematical skills that each student needs to master to become successful in mathematics in future grade levels. Data is used to identify students who may be at risk for difficulties; teachers identify areas to target instructional support; monitor at-risk students while they receive support; and to examine the effectiveness of the school's system of instructional supports. Data is shared with parents after each administration. | Fall, Winter, Spring |
|
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT-7) |
Aptitude | 1 | The Cognitive Abilities Test, (CogAT-7), will be administered to all first-grade students. The CogAT measures general reasoning abilities in three domains: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. The universal screening process, facilitated by the Gifted and Talented Department, allows for all 1st grade students to participate in a cognitive assessment where individual results can help recognize exceptional ability and/or gifted potential. The scores, reported in national percentiles by age using the most current norms, provide a cognitive snapshot helping parents and school staff better understand individual learners. |
Winter |
|
Classroom Diagnostic Test (CDT) |
Diagnostic | 3-11 | The purpose of the CDT is to provide information that will help guide instruction by providing support to students and teachers. The CDT reports are designed to provide a picture or snapshot of how students are performing in relation to the Pennsylvania Assessment Anchors & Eligible Content and Keystone Assessment Anchors & Eligible Content. Because the CDT is diagnostic in nature relative to student acquisition of the standards, the data may be used to dig deeper and form flexible groups based upon changing student needs. Teachers can then conduct ongoing formative and summative assessment to determine with students whether they are making progress or not towards attainment of the standards. |
Fall, Winter, Spring |
|
Pennsylvania System of State Assessments (PSSA) |
Summative- State required |
3-8 | The annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standards-based, criterion-referenced assessment which provides students, parents, educators, and citizens with an understanding of student and school performance related to the attainment of proficiency of the academic standards. These standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science and Technology identify what a student should know and be able to do at varying grade levels. School districts possess the freedom to design curriculum and instruction to ensure that students meet or exceed the standards' expectations. Every Pennsylvania student in grades 3 through 8 is assessed in English Language Arts and Math. Every Pennsylvania student in grades 4 and 8 is assessed in science. Individual student scores, provided only to their respective schools, can be used to assist teachers in identifying students who may need additional educational opportunities, and school scores provide information to schools and districts for curriculum and instruction improvement discussions and planning. The data is reported to the public in the PA Future Ready Index. |
Spring |
|
PDE Career Readiness Indicators |
Summative- State required |
3-12 | The Career Readiness Indicator recognizes efforts to ensure that all students have access to career exploration and preparation activities that are standards-aligned and evidence-based, including the development of career plans and portfolios that help students identify pathways and opportunities for postsecondary success. The Career Readiness Indicator identifies the percentage of students in a reporting cohort who demonstrate meaningful engagement in career exploration and preparation and implementation of individualized career plans through separate, specific measures based on grade level benchmarks aligned to the CEW standards. The data is used to evaluate programming and build student success and is reported to the public in the PA Future Ready Index. |
Various times during the school year- during Social Studies, ELA, Library, PE/Health and Counseling- based on grade level |
| Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Growth Assessment | Benchmark | 7-8 | The HMH Growth Measures are a collection of research-based ELA benchmark assessments that provide educators with an overall insight into how their students are performing in their grade level. Data is used to guide instruction and provide support for students who have skill deficiencies. |
Fall, Winter, Spring |
|
Keystone Exam
|
Summative- State required |
7*-11 End of course | The Keystone exams were created to replace the Grade 11 PSSA and serve as one component of Pennsylvania's statewide high school graduation requirement. Keystone Exams will help school districts guide students toward meeting state standards. The exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Literature, and Biology. Data from state assessments is used for program evaluation and for student recommendations for coursework. Proficiency is also part of the Pathways to Graduation, a state graduation requirement. Students who do not take the Keystone Exam or who do not meet Proficiency need to complete an alternate pathway to meet the graduation requirement. The data is reported to the public in the PA Future Ready Index. |
Spring |
|
Civics Exam |
Summative- State required |
10* During Course |
Act 35 of 2018 requires student complete a test of civics knowledge. To meet this expectation, a locally developed assessment of U.S. history, government, and civics is embedded in the District’s United States Government course. This assessment includes the nature, purpose, principles and structure of United States constitutional democracy, the principles, operations and documents of United States government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Successful completion of the assessment is not a graduation requirement for students. However, the data is reported to the Department of Education. |
During course as unit ends |
|
Advanced Placement Exams (AP) |
Summative- National, voluntary | 9*-12 End of Course | Advanced Placement (AP) is a created by the College Board. AP offers undergraduate university-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Colleges and universities in the US and elsewhere may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain qualifying scores on the examinations. The data from the AP exams are used to evaluate instruction and improve course outcomes for future students. If a student does or does not meet the proficiency requirement of the exam, students have the choice of using or not sharing their data to submit to colleges on applications. Summary data may be shared by College Board to organizations for ranking. Data is shared with students through their College Board account. |
Spring |
|
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) |
Aptitude - National, voluntary | 9-11* Optional | The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test administered by the College Board and cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in the United States. Students may take the test at any grade level, but most choose to take in 10th and 11th grade to prepare for taking the SAT. Students who take the test in 11th grade may have their scores considered for participation in the National Merit Scholarship Program for recognition of achieving the highest scores in the test administration. Student data from the PSAT may be used as part of the Pathways to Graduation requirement as an alternate assessment when students do not take or do not meet the proficiency in the Keystone Exam. Data is shared with students through their College Board account. |
Fall- Saturday in October |
|
SAT/ACT |
Aptitude - National, voluntary | 9-12* Optional |
The SAT and ACT are standardized tests administrated by the College Board and ACT. The results of these assessments may be shared with colleges and universities for acceptance, placement into courses or special programs, or used as criteria for scholarships. Students may take the assessment as many times as they wish at any grade-level. Registration is through the organization’s website. Student data from the SAT and/or ACT may be used as part of the Pathways to Graduation requirement as an alternate assessment when students do not take or do not meet the proficiency in the Keystone Exam. Data is shared with the student through their College Board account. |
Most months- scheduled dates posted on company website |
|
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) |
Aptitude - National, voluntary | 11-12* Optional |
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in careers or the military. The voluntary test given at the HS level is for purposes of career readiness. For students entering the military, the ASVAB would be given through enlistment. Student data from the ASVAB may be used as part of the Pathways to Graduation requirement as an alternate assessment when students do not take or do not meet the proficiency in the Keystone Exam. |
Winter- scheduled through Counseling Office |
|
World Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) |
Diagnostic | K-12 entrance and monitoring assessment | WIDA Screener is an English language proficiency assessment given to new students in grades K–12 to help educators identify whether they are English learners (ELs). The data provides information that informs instructional planning and other decisions related to students' education. | On-going for new students; Winter for annual assessment (January-February) |
|
Pennsylvania Alternate State Assessment (PASA) |
Summative- State required | Based on eligibility | Pennsylvania Alternate State Assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Students must meet eligibility requirements based on their IEP goals, levels of type of instruction received, level of adaptation, types of modifications, level of academic, functional, and behavioral skills. | Spring- March through May |