STUDENT ASSESSMENT

STUDENT ASSESSMENT

po2623Adopted February 1, 2002Revised September 9, 2025

2623 - STUDENT ASSESSMENT

The School Board, in compliance with law and rules of the State Board of Education, shall implement the State Board-approved statewide achievement test to assess student achievement and needs in English/language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and other designated subjects in order to determine the progress of students and to assist them in attaining School Corporation and Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) goals.

Student test scores on statewide assessments may be utilized in making placement decisions; provided, however, a student's score on the state assessment may not be the primary factor or measure used to determine whether a student is eligible for a particular course or program.

Additionally, the Board shall administer any end of course exams as may be required by the State Board in grades 9 through 12.

IREAD-3 Assessment

The Board shall comply with the requirements of the State Board of Education in administering the Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD-3) Assessment to students enrolled in grade 2 and grade 3.

A student in grade 2 who is at risk of not being reading proficient as indicated on the IREAD-3 Assessment shall be offered summer school participation in reading remediation. In grade 3, the student will be administered the IREAD-3 Assessment again. A student in grade 3 who is not reading proficient as indicated on the IREAD-3 Assessment shall be offered summer school participation in reading remediation. All grade 3 students failing the IREAD-3 Assessment will have an opportunity to retake the IREAD-3 Assessment at least two (2) times in the summer before the grade 3 retention requirements listed below apply.

The student will be retained in grade 3 if the student has not achieved a passing score on the IREAD-3 Assessment after the student has had an opportunity to retake it at least two (2) times in the summer unless:

  1. the student was subject to retention and has been retained in grade 3 for one (1) school year;
  2. the student has an intellectual disability or the student's individualized education program specifies that retention is not appropriate, and the student's case conference committee has determined that promotion to another grade is appropriate;
  3. the student is an English learner who has received services for fewer than two (2) years, and a committee consisting of the student's parent, a building level administrator or designee, a classroom teacher of service, an English learner teacher of record, if one exists, and an English learner Corporation administrator, if one exists, determines that promotion is appropriate based on the implementation of research based instructional practices outlined in the student's individual learning plan;
  4. the student received a score of proficient or above proficient in grade 3 math on Indiana's Learning Evaluation and Assessment Readiness Network (ILEARN);
  5. the student has received intensive intervention as determined by the IDOE in reading for two (2) or more years and was retained more than one (1) time throughout kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 2.

Appeal Process

The parent of a student who has been retained in grade 3 pursuant to I.C. 20-32-8.5-2(a)(2)(A) because the student has not achieved a passing score on the IREAD-3 and who would not have been retained for other reasons may appeal the student's retention if the parent believes that one of the following exceptions applies:

  1. the student was subject to retention and has been retained in grade 3 for one (1) school year;
  2. the student has an intellectual disability or the student's individualized education program specifies that retention is not appropriate, and the student's case conference committee has determined that promotion to another grade is appropriate;
  3. the student is an English learner who has received services for fewer than two (2) years and a committee consisting of the parent, a building level administrator or designee, a classroom teacher of service, an English learner teacher of record (if one exists), and an English learner Corporation administrator (if one exists) determines that promotion is appropriate based on the implementation of research based instructional practices outlined in the student's individual learning plan;
  4. the student received a score of proficient or above proficient in grade 3 math on the statewide summative assessment; or
  5. the student has received intensive intervention as determined by the IDOE in reading for two (2) or more years and was retained more than one (1) time throughout kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 2.

The parent must submit the appeal in writing, along with supporting documentation, to the  Principal prior to the beginning of the school year in which the student is to be retained. Once received, the Principal will consider the documentation submitted by the parent and issue a determination, in writing, within five (5) business days from receipt of the appeal about whether the student meets one of the criteria in A-E above that excepts the student from retention, which will be provided to the parent via electronic mail (if authorized by the parent), U.S. First Class mail, or hand delivery.

This determination is final, and the Board will not hear appeals from this determination. 

Exemption for English Language Learner Students

The Corporation may apply for an exemption from compliance with the retention requirements for grade 3 students who do not pass the IREAD-3 Assessment for an English language learner who:

  1. does not achieve a passing score on the IREAD-3 Assessment; and
  2. attends a school that has a student population comprised of at least fifty percent (50%) of English learners in grade 3, as determined by the Indiana Department of Education

until the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year.

Participation in the Indiana Literacy Cadre

Subject to available funding, a Corporation school in which fewer than seventy percent (70%) of students of the school achieved a valid passing score on the IREAD-3 Assessment shall participate in the Indiana literacy cadre.

The Superintendent shall develop and implement a plan that complies with guidelines established by the IDOE.

Mathematics Proficiency Screener

The Board shall comply with the requirements of I.C. 20-32-6.5 in administering the mathematics proficiency screener approved by the IDOE to identify students at risk of not achieving grade level proficiency in mathematics to students in kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2 beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

Mathematics Interventions

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, if a Corporation school determines that a student in kindergarten through grade 8 is at risk of not achieving grade level proficiency in mathematics as determined by an analysis of the student's data from: 1) a grade level screener approved by the IDOE; or 2) a through-year statewide assessment; the school must provide intervention that meets the following requirements:

  1. The intervention includes a multitiered system of support that progresses from less to more intensive support based on the student's individual needs.
  2. The intervention is aligned to daily Tier I instruction and standard level learning progressions.
  3. The intervention is:
     
    1. targeted;
    2. differentiated; and
    3. supplemental to Tier I instruction.
  4. The intervention:
     
    1. is aligned with evidence based instructional strategies to promote conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and real world problem solving; and
    2. allows a student opportunities to interact, show progress, and demonstrate understanding through rigorous grade level content.
  5. The intervention includes continual assessment and in depth analysis of each student's data to inform the flexible movement in and out of Tiers II and III.

The Superintendent shall establish administrative guidelines to implement this policy.

Revised 11/12/24
Revised 7/8/25

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