Assessments

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is the state assessment and accountability measure for Illinois students enrolled in a public school district. IAR assesses the New Illinois Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core and will be administered in English Language Arts and Mathematics. IAR assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics will be administered to all students in grades 3-8.

The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) is administered to students enrolled in a public school district in grades 5, 8, and 11. The assessment will be administered in an online format and is aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards for Science, incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which were adopted in 2014. The ISA has three sections and is not timed. The average student time-on-task is estimated at 120 minutes to complete all 3 sections of the test.

The  Dynamic Learning Maps-Alternate Assessment is the required state assessment for students, in grades 3-11, with the most significant cognitive disabilities. As determined by the IEP, students with the most significant cognitive disabilities may take the DLM if participation in the state’s regular assessments is not appropriate, even with accommodations. ​

ACCESS for ELLs (ACCESS) is the collective name for WIDA's suite of summative English language proficiency assessments. ACCESS is taken annually by English language learners in Kindergarten through Grade 8. ACCESS tests students' language in the four domains: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.

The Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) is an observational tool designed to improve understanding of children’s development in key areas of learning for long-term success, including social and emotional learning, language and literacy, mathematics, and approaches to learning. KIDS is validated, informed by research, and aligned with state learning standards. This is not a “test,” but is a set of documented teacher observations of students’ demonstration of developmental skills and interactions. 

NWEA MAP Growth is a dynamic adaptive assessment that measures your students’ achievement and growth in K–12 math, reading, language usage, and science. Use MAP Growth to understand how your K–12 students are performing and to inform your instructional strategies.

The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) is an assessment of standards-based language learning across the three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Presentational, and Interpretive) as defined by the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning. The AAPPL assesses the Spanish language that students have acquired and practiced within a classroom setting, providing evidence that points toward a learner’s proficiency level. Students enrolled in dual programs and in grades 3-8 take this assessment annually. Different grade levels are assessed in different forms.

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a multiple-choice assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions. At West Chicago, this assessment is given in grades 2 and 5.