Assessments

What Do Tests Measure?

National:

• NAEP - National Assessment of Educational Progress - Grades 4, 8, 12
  The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is often referred to as the "Nation’s Report Card". The Idaho State Board of Education included NAEP in the state testing program because it lets us see how students in our state perform compared to students in other states across the country. Students in grades 4,8, and 12 are randomly selected to participate and will be assessed in reading, math and science. Results are reported to and about the State. No results are reported to or about individual students or schools.

State:

• IRI - Idaho Reading Indicator - Grades K-3
  The IRI for kindergarten assesses reading readiness and phonological awareness. The IRI for first, second, and third grade assesses fluency and accuracy of the student’s reading skills. Students are assessed on their abilities to identify letters, sound out words, read sight words, spell, detect, generate and produce rhyme, detect syllables, read a story, and answer comprehension questions, depending on their grade level.
  The IRI is administered individually to each student by a trained proctor (not the regular classroom teacher). The IRI is given in fall, winter, and spring and takes ten to fifteen minutes to administer.
• DWA - Direct Writing Assessment - Grades 5, 7, and 9
  The State Direct Writing Assessment (DWA) assesses student writing performance. Students are provided a prompt that they write to for ninety minutes. Fifth grade students write a narrative essay. Seventh grade students write an expository essay and ninth grade students write a 2 part expository . These writing samples are scored holistically using a scoring rubric/standard.
• DMA - Direct Mathematics Assessment - Grades 4, 6, and 8
  The State Direct Math Assessment (DMA) is a performance test. It consists of five mathematical problems for each grade level. Students are required to answer the first problem and then choose three of the remaining four problems to answer. Each problem has several components requiring answers and demonstration of student work. The assessment is scored holistically using a scoring rubric/standard. The assessment is 90 minutes working time for students.
• IAA - Idaho Alternate Assessment - qualifying Special Ed students
  Idaho’s Alternate Assessments for students with disabilities who are unable to participate in the general education statewide assessments consist of teacher ratings based on a variety of performance demonstrations.
• ISAT - Idaho Standards Achievement Tests - Grades 3-10
  The Idaho Standards Achievement Tests (ISAT) are administered to all students in grades two through ten. There are three subject areas assessed each fall and spring: Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics. The ISAT will include Science in the spring 2005 for grades 5, 7, and 10. The assessment is administered using computers that adapt the level of question difficulty to the ability level identified for each student. Each subject area assessment takes approximately one hour. More about ISAT

Boise School District:

• CBM - Curriculum Based Measurement - Grades 4-6
  The Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM) test is an oral fluency reading assessment. Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students in the Boise School District are given a CBM test at least twice a year in the spring and fall. Students earn scores based on how many words they can read correctly from a passage of grade level text during three one- minute timed readings.
• District Writing - Grades 6, 8, and 11
  The Boise School District administers its own sixth, eighth and eleventh grade Writing Assessments. The sixth grade assessments are used to help qualify students for accelerated language arts classes in 7th grade. The eighth and eleventh grade writing assessments are part of the District curriculum and fulfill the 2nd quarter common writing assignment requirement.
• Math Survey - Grade 6
  The Boise School District administers its own sixth grade Math Survey Assessment. The test is used to help qualify students for Accelerated Math in 7th grade.
• EOC - End of Course
  End of Course (EOC) tests are District assessments given at the secondary level at the end of each semester as a common final. The EOC provides an assessment for students to demonstrate mastery of course content/State standards and are calculated as a portion of the student's semester grade.

When are tests given?

Check our calendar for specific dates.

• Pre-K IRI - IRI - CBM-
  Fall - September
  Winter - January
  Spring - April - May
• DWA
  December - grades 5,7,8,9,11
  March - grade 6
• DMA
  November - grades 4,6,8
• ISAT
  Fall - Sept. - Oct.
  Spring - April - May
• ISAT Graduation Exit Exam
  (Retake for 11th and 12th grade students)
  October
  May
• Math Survey Assessment
  April - grade 6
• NAEP
  Not all schools will test for NAEP and testing dates will differ, please inquire at your child’s school for details.