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Assessments

Overview Assessment Schedule Statewide Assessments LEA Assessments Resources

Overview

Our overarching goal is to support and monitor student learning through partnerships with our schools.  We strive to provide educators and district leaders with the best analysis and information regarding student achievement.  

Our office provides leadership and technical expertise for the district in the areas of State assessments, district assessments, student achievement, and accountability.

We disseminate this actionable information to school educators, district administrators, the Board of Education, school community councils, and the public. Our information supports student-centered data-driven decisions by building leadership teams and district leadership.

Our office is responsible for ensuring compliance with state, and federal testing requirements (e.g., RISE, K-3 Reading Acadience, Acadience Reading and Math K-8), accountability requirements and Summit Academy assessment program (e.g., Acadience, EasyCBM, AP, PSAT/NMSQT, MAP).

Why do we test?

  • Measure Student Progress: To see if students are learning core knowledge and skills, and to identify areas needing support.
  • Inform Decisions: Data helps educators, parents, and policymakers make better choices about curricula, programs, and resource allocation.
  • Ensure Accountability: Statewide assessments hold schools and districts accountable for student outcomes.
  • Identify Strengths/Weaknesses: Pinpoint where instruction is effective and where it needs improvement.
  • Prepare for Future: Assessments like Aspire Plus (for grades 9/10) and career-tech tests prepare students for college and careers.

Which tests do Utah’s students take?

  • Grades 3-8: Take the annual RISE (Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment) test in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science (grades 4-8), with Writing in 5th & 8th.
  • Grades 9-10: Take the Utah Aspire Plus, assessing ELA, Math, and Science, and predicting ACT performance.
  • Grade 11: Take the state-funded ACT for college readiness, covering English, Reading, Math, and Science. 

Other Assessmemnts

  • Acadience: Early literacy (K-6).
  • AVANT STAMP: For Dual Language Immersion students to test target language proficiency (Grades 3-9).
  • WIDA: (K-12) For English Language Learners (ELLs) is given to all EL students during the annual testing window to measure proficiency and growth toward academic language proficiency in English.
  • AP/IB Exams: Optional for high schoolers seeking college credit, taken in high school. 

How should students prepare for the test?

Practice for the test is the instruction students receive throughout the school year—the skills and knowledge they acquire each day. There are a few things, however, families can do to prepare for test day at home:

  • Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast.
  • Make the morning of testing as relaxing as possible by arriving to school on time.
  • Encourage children to focus and pace themselves without rushing. It’s important to take your time, and read each question carefully.
  • Remind children that if the test questions seem hard, that means they’re doing well. The RISE test is computer adaptive, which means it adapts to the examinee’s abilities by proposing harder questions when a student gets something correct, and easier questions when the student gives a wrong answer.
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