ACCESS for ELLs
ACCESS for ELLs is an online assessment system that measures the English language proficiency (ELP) of English learners (ELs) in Grades K-12. This assessment allows educators, students, and families to monitor students’ progress in acquiring academic English in the domains of Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing
The Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is an English language proficiency (ELP) assessment. It is administered in the four language domains of Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing for students in grades 1-12 identified as English Learners (Els) who have significant cognitive disabilities.
December 2024 – January 2025
Results are shared with families in the spring towards the end of the school year.
DPI Website
ACT Plus Writing
The ACT with writing is administered to students in grade 11 and consists of four multiple-choice tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, and a 40-minute essay test that measures Writing skills. The ACT can be used for college enrollment, scholarships, and NCAA eligibility requirements.
*Districtwide testing day is March 12, 2025
DPI Website
Brigance Early Childhood Screener
Students enrolled in grades K3, K4, K5 and Head Start are screened using the Brigance Screens III within the first 45 days of school. The purpose f the early childhood screening is to provide parents and teachers with consistent and reliable assessment data of child development, behavioral, motor, language, social, cognitive, and emotional skills, as well as identify students in need of targeted support in learning, early literacy skills, and overall general development. For students screened at the begining of the school year, results are shared with families at or around parent-teacher conferences in October.
Civics Test
Starting with the class of 2017, students graduating from a Wisconsin high school must take a civics test composed of 100 questions that are identical to the 100 questions that may be asked of an individual during the process of applying for U.S. citizenship by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Students will meet the graduation requirement by correctly answering at least 65 of the 100 questions.
Results are posted to the student transcript upon receiving a passing score.
DPI Website
CogAT
The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) assesses students’ abilities in reasoning and problem solving using verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal (spatial) symbols. It is used as a screener in 2nd grade to help identify students for possible eligibility for gifted and talented programs and may also be used to in other grade levels on an individual student basis.
Districtwide screening takes place each fall in November and December. Results of the screening are shared with families in January.
Dynamic Learning Maps
DLM assesses the academic progress of students with significant cognitive disabilities. It is administered online in grades 3-11 for English Language Arts and Mathematics, grades 4 and 8-11 for Science, and grades 4, 8, and 10 for Social Studies.
March 17 – April 25, 2025
Results are shared with families by the beginning of the following school year.
DPI Website
NAEP/TUDA
NAEP is also known as the Nation’s Report Card and is used to compare student performance between states and over time. Each year different schools and students are sampled to participate in this test, which includes grades 4 and 8 Reading and Mathematics. Grade 12 testing and additional subject areas are also often included.
As a part of NAEP, MPS also participates in the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA), which is used to report on the performance of public school students at the district level. Individual student results are not shared by NAEP.
January – March 2025 NAEP – Reading and Mathematics Grades 4, 8, and 12, (selected schools only)
DPI Website
PreACT Secure
The PreACT Secure is a summative assessment, aligned to The ACT with writing test and the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards, that measures what students have learned in the areas of English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science in grades 9 and 10.
Testing Window: March 17 – April 25, 2024.
MPS Districtwide testing day is TBD.
Results are shared with families by the beginning of the following school year.
DPI Website
Star
Star is a district assessment used in 1st grade through high school. It is a computer-adaptive test used to screen students three times per year in the areas of reading and math and can be administered in both English and Spanish. It is also used for progress monitoring of students who receive academic interventions. The purpose of Star is to provide data to inform instruction at the student, classroom, school, and district level, while also identifying students in need of additional support.
Star screening windows occur in the fall, winter, and spring. Results are shared with families by schools upon completion of each screening window.
Wisconsin Forward Exam
Students in grades 3-8 take the Forward Exam online in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, in Science in grades 4 and 8, and Social Studies in grades 4, 8, and 10.
March 17 – April 25, 2025
Results are shared with families by the beginning of the following school year.
DPI Website