The Testing and Assessment department coordinates the administration and processing of local, state and federally mandated assessments, provides training and support for test coordinators and principals, and ensures that appropriate test administration and security procedures are followed at all testing sites. The department also provides guidance on changes to the state assessment program and coordinates online testing.
Our department develops reports, and data analysis tools that support continuous school improvement and increased student achievement. Our work is responsive to and reflective of ongoing changes to the state’s accountability system, as well as to the needs of campus and district leaders.
Assessment facilitates the administration of the following assessments:
• State Assessments
o The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) program includes annual assessments for the subject areas and courses below. The STAAR testing program is a more rigorous testing program that emphasizes “readiness” standards, which are those Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) student expectations that are considered most important for success in the grade or course subject that follow and for college and career. The EOC assessments are course-based exams.
- Reading (grades 3-8)
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- End-of-Course assessments in Algebra I, Biology, English 1, English 2, and US History
o STAAR-Alternate 2 (grades 3-8 and EOC courses)
- STAAR Alternate 2 is an assessment based on alternate academic standards and is designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities receiving special education services. Additionally, the students must meet participation requirements.
o TELPAS, TELPAS Alternate
- The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) is an English language proficiency assessment aligned to the Texas English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS). This assessment is designed to assess the progress that emergent bilingual (EB) students make in learning the English language.
- The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) Alternate is a holistic inventory aligns to the Texas English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPs); however, TELPAS Alternate is based on alternate proficiency level descriptors. This assessment is designed to address the specific access needs of emergent bilingual (EB) students in grades 2–12 with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
• Local Assessments
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District Assessments
o i-Ready is an online program for reading and mathematics that will help students’ teachers determine opportunities for growth, personalize learning, and monitor progress throughout the year.
- i-Ready allows teachers to meet their students exactly where they are and provides data to increase students’ learning gains. It consists of the i-Ready Diagnostic and i-Ready Personalized Instruction
Diagnostic:
- An adaptive assessment that's administered three times a year (BOY, MOY, and EOY)
- Students will receive a typical growth goal and a stretch growth goal.
Personalized Instruction:
- Lessons are assigned based on students’ individual skill levels and provides opportunities for improvement
- Students are learning at a pace right for them
CLI Suite of Assessments
- CLI Engage Suite of Assessments provides data to be used to help early childhood teachers understand student skill levels and individualize instruction to support areas in which students are at-risk for falling significantly behind.
The assessments to be administered in DeSoto ISD are:
- CIRCLE for Pre-Kindergarten students
- CIRCLE Kinder for Kindergarten students
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• Federal Assessments
o National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
• Other Assessments
o College Board Assessments – SAT, PSAT NMSQT, and PSAT 8/9
Contact Information:
LaKedra Cardell
Director of Assessment and Evaluation
(972) 223-6666 ext.8207
[email protected]
Yolanda Harris
Coordinator of Assessment and Evaluation
(972) 223-6666 ext.8203
[email protected]