State Testing

Dear District 20 Community,

In an effort to assess your child's progress as, we plan to administer the iReady diagnostic assessment in reading and math to

District 20 children in grades 2-8.

In District 20, we place data at the core of our process for making decisions, and view assessments as a beginning, not an end.

The pandemic has interrupted many of the processes we are accustomed to using when gathering data, including how we assess student learning.

For example, your schools have recently communicated with you that New York State exams in ELA Math, Science, and NYSESLAT will be administered differently this year, and schools have been faced with the challenge of adapting internal assessments for remote students as well as for in person students that must adhere to health and safety protocols.

We are already thinking about next year. In order to be best prepared to design instruction and experiences that meets the needs of all students, and to design professional learning for school staff that builds their capacity to address these needs, we need to have a strong understanding of what students have accomplished this year and where they still need additional support. 

In order to accomplish this, all District 20 schools will administer the iReady diagnostic assessment in reading and math to students in grades 2-8.

These assessments will be taken online by both remote and in-person students.

Families will receive a report of how their children are exceeding, approaching, or needing additional support in standards proficiency, and school staff will utilize this data as a starting point for planning curriculum and instruction for the fall an Spring.

The iReady assessment is not a replacement for the state exams; instead, it is a standard-aligned screener that provides schools and families with one view of where students are excelling and where they could use additional support.

    These assessments will be used by school and district staff to better understand what strengths and struggles exist so curriculum and instruction can be tailored to meet student needs, and parents will have access to resources that can immediately support their children in specific areas.

These assessments will not be used for grades, promotion, or admission to programs and/or schools.

We will need your help. Taking assessments have always presented challenges, and computer

assessments present unique challenges for both remote and in-person students. All students will need guidance and an internet-enabled device for the iReady diagnostic assessments. In order to inform the community and prepare for the iReady assessments,

I will hold virtual meetings through out the year to inform on iReady

I encourage all families to attend, and we will record the meeting for those who cannot make it. We are committed to finishing this year strong and getting in position to start the 2022-2023 school year strong as well, and we thank you for your support in this effort.

In partnership,

David Pretto

Community Superintendent

The exams will be administered within the following dates:

English Language Arts for grades 3 through 8: TBA

Mathematics for grades 3 through 8: TBA

Science for grades 4 and 8: TBA

Regents Exams : TBA

NYSESLAT: TBA

Testing will not occur on May 13, when schools are closed for Eid Al-Fitr. We will share the scheduled testing date for your child prior to the start of testing window.