Assessment

Teachers at Irvington Community Elementary School (ICES) use a variety of assessments to drive instruction to meet individual student needs.

In addition to the state-mandated ILEARN testing in 3rd-8th grades and IREAD-3 for grade 3, public charter schools in Indiana are required to administer one additional assessment to gauge student progress. Like many other schools, ICS has chosen NWEA’s (Northwest Evaluation Association) MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) as our second assessment tool.

NWEA’s MAP tests are state-aligned assessments used to determine children’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year and from year to year in the areas of Reading and Mathematics.

Computerized MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for each child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. Also with MAP tests, we can administer shorter tests and use less class time while still receiving detailed, accurate information about each student’s growth.

Each school year, students in grades K-5 take the MAP tests in the fall, winter, and spring. Following each testing season, ICES parents/guardians will receive a Student Progress Report showing your child’s past and current data and a graph displaying his/her growth (please note: the graph is only available for students who have participated in at least two testing seasons). This report also identifies your child’s performance on specific goal areas in Reading (2nd-5th grades only), Language Use, and Mathematics.

Additional assessments of literacy growth are administered by the ICES Instructional Assistants. The Fountas and Pinnell Literacy Assessment is administered to students in grades K-5 to assess fluency, comprehension, and writing skills (note: the F&P assessment is currently on hold).