Assessment Information

Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is the state assessment and accountability measure for Illinois students enrolled in a public school district. IAR assesses all students in grades 3-8 on the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.​ The IAR is administered in March of each school year.

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Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)

In compliance with federal testing requirements, Illinois administers a science assessment to students enrolled in grades 5 and 8. The assessment is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Science incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The ISA is administered in March of each school year.

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FastBridge

FastBridge earlyReading assesses early literacy skills through reading assessment subtests that measure accuracy and automaticity. FastBridge earlyMath assesses early numeracy skills through early math assessment subtests that measure accuracy and automaticity. Both earlyReading and earlyMath are administered to K-1 students. The SAEBRS (Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener) is a brief, norm-referenced tool for screening all K-8 students to identify those who are at risk for social-emotional behavior (SEB) problems.

i-Ready

i-Ready is a grades 2-8 district administered assessment in reading and mathematics used to measure growth relative to national and local grade level peers. The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit each student’s needs. Test questions are individualized and based on answers to the previous questions. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier questions. The i-Ready diagnostic is administered three times a year in both reading and mathematics: September, December, and May.

iReady Family Resource Center

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Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a multiple-choice K-12 assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions.  The CogAT is a group-administered aptitude test commonly given as an entrance exam into school’s gifted programs. The CogAT consists of a verbal battery, quantitative battery, and nonverbal battery. Each battery is a separate section of the test containing three different types of questions that cover unique cognitive abilities. Oak Grove administers the CogAT test to students in grades 3 and 5 each February. Please visit the Talented and Gifted webpage to find out more about services for gifted and talented students in reading and math.

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Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS)

The Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) is an observational tool designed to help teachers, administrators, families, and policymakers better understand the developmental readiness of children entering kindergarten.​ KIDS is a state-required measure of kindergarten students’ development across four domains-approaches to learning and self-regulation, social and emotional development, language and literacy development and math. The data entry window for districts opens one week before the 40th day of attendance and will remain open until one week after the 40th day of attendance.

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English Language Proficiency Assessment (ACCESS)

ACCESS is a state required English language proficiency test designed to measure English language learner’s speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Potential English Learners (ELs) must be screened and placed in EL services if they qualify. Districts must make annual placement determinations for ELs based on the ACCESS scores. ​

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Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment (DLM-AA)

The ​Dynamic Learning MapsTM​ (DLM®) offers an innovative way for all students with significant cognitive disabilities to demonstrate their learning throughout the school year via the DLM Alternate Assessment System. Traditional multiple-choice testing does not always allow students with significant cognitive disabilities to fully demonstrate their knowledge. By integrating assessment with instruction during the year and providing a year-end assessment, the DLM system maps student learning aligned with college and career readiness standards in English language arts and mathematics. The DLM system is accessible by students with significant cognitive disabilities, including those who also have hearing or visual disabilities, and/or neuromuscular, orthopedic, or other motor disabilities. DLM assessments are flexible. They allow for the use of common assistive technologies in addition to keyboard and mouse and touch-screen technology.