Assessment for Learning
Assessment Information
The United States Department of Education, State of Wisconsin, and the Cumberland School District each require a variety of assessments for a variety of purposes. Below is a list of the assessments. Please expand to review the subject matter, purpose, mandate, and if possible, time spent to schedule and take the assessment, and distribute results.
Federal/State Required Assessments
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Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
Grades K-12, English language proficiency for students identified as English Learners (ELs)
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
WIDA ACCESS allows educators, ELs, and families to monitor EL’s progress in acquiring academic English in the domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Law or Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Wisconsin State Statute 115.96(1)
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
The WIDA ACCESS test is untimed, and students have the time needed to produce scorable content. ACCESS typically takes 1-4.5 hours to complete, depending on grade and test format.
Schedule for the Assessment
WIDA ACCESS is administered annually in the winter. See DPI WIDA Access Calendar.
Schedule and Format for Sharing Results
Student score reports are available in multiple languages, with paper copies provided to Districts in English during the spring. Districts distribute parent school reports either in late spring or early in the next school year. See DPI Timing of Data
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Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
Grade 11 for reading, English, mathematics, science, and writing
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
ACT with writing helps students understand what they need to learn next to build rigorous high school course plans and identify career areas that align with their interests. It can be used for college enrollment, scholarships, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements.
Law or Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Wisconsin State Statute 118.30
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
ACT with writing takes 3 hours, 20 minutes to complete, including breaks. See DPI ACT with Writing Resouces.
Schedule for the Assessment
ACT with writing is administered annually in the spring. See DPI ACT with Writing Calendar.
Schedule and Format for Sharing Results
Student Score Reports are available online and mailed 5-8 weeks after the assessment. See DPI ACT with Writing Timing of Data.
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Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
Grades 9 and 10 for reading, English, mathematics, and science
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
PreACT Secure can be used to predict future ACT scores and possible areas of strength and challenges.
Law or Policy Requiring the Assessment
Wisconsin State Statute 118.30
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
PreACT Secure assessments take 2 hours, 40 minutes to complete, including breaks. See DPI ACT with Writing Resouces.
Schedule for the Assessment
PreACT Secure is administered annually in the spring. See DPI PreACT Calendar.
Schedule and Format for Sharing Results
Students receive individual reports. Reports will be either hand delivered or mailed to parent/guardians. See DPI PreACT Timing of Data.
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DPI Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades 3-11 in ELA and mathematics
- Grades 4, 8-11 in science
- Grades 4, 8, and 10 in social studies
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
DLM assesses the academic progress of students with significant cognitive disabilities. It is administered online.
Law or Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Wisconsin State Statute 118.30
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
DLM is untimed.
Schedule for the Assessment
DLM is administered annually in the spring. See DPI Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Calendar.
Schedule and Format for Sharing Results
Students receive individual reports and learning profiles. Reports will be either hand delivered or mailed to parent/guardians. See DPI Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Timing of Data.
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Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades 3-8 in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics
- Grades 4 and 8 in science
- Grades 4, 8, and 10 in social studies
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
The Forward Exam gauges how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards and how well districts and the state are supporting students to meet those standards.
Law or Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Wisconsin State Statute 118.30
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
The Forward Exam is untimed. See DPI Wisconsin Forward Exam Timing.
Schedule for the Assessment
The Forward Exam is administered annually in the spring. See DPI Wisconsin Forward Exam Calendar.
Schedule and Format for Sharing Results
Students receive individual reports. Reports will be either hand delivered or mailed to parent/guardians. See DPI Wisconsin Forward Timing of Data.
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Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
Grades 4K-3 for reading readiness
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
Districts must assess fundamental reading skills in order to inform and identify students with reading needs. Districts are required to provide interventions or remedial services to address the needs consistent with the state standards in reading and language arts.
Law or Policy Requiring the Assessment
Wisconsin State Statute 118.016 (Act 20)
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
Varies by assessment type and grade. See: WI Act 20 Assessment Matrix
Schedule for the Assessment
Universal screenings are administered at least 3 times per school year; once before the 45th school day, once in the middle of the school term, and once by the 45th day before the last day of school.
Diagnostic assessments are administered within 10 days of screening for students who are indicated as at-risk on the universal screener.
Schedule and Format for Sharing Results
Students receive individual reports. Reports will be either hand delivered to parent/guardians or accessible via the District's Data Warehouse's Guardian Portal within 15 days of screening.
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DPI National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
Grades 4 and 8 for reading and mathematics (only if the school is selected to participate)
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
NAEP assessment results help produce the Nation’s Report Card. NAEP is a survey given each year to a sample of schools selected to participate. Districts that receive Title-I funds agree to have schools participate.
Law or Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
Students typically spend 1.5-2 hours to complete the NAEP, depending on grade and test format.
Schedule for the Assessment
Each sample school has one test date, between the last week of January and the first week of March.
Schedule and Format for Sharing Results
Results are reported at the state and national levels. See NCES Nations Report Card.
Locally Determined Assessments
Universal screening is the process of systematically assessing all students in a classroom/grade to identify students who may need additional academic or behavioral support. Administered a few times a year, it helps educators identify potential learning gaps early, inform instructional decisions, and allocate resources effectively to ensure all students have a chance to succeed.
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Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades K-8 for math
- Grades 4-9 for reading proficiency
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
To measure student progress and growth in reading and math, and identify students that may need supplemental, differentiated, or individualized instruction.
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
Varies by grade level. Approximately 30-45 minutes.
Schedule for the Assessment
Three times a year; in the fall, winter, and spring.
See the CSD Assessment Calendar linked at the top of the page for exact dates.Schedule and Format for Sharing Results
Students receive individual reports in the mail.
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Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
Grades 4K-12 for social-emotional screening
Systems Used
SAEBERs
Purpose and Use of the Assessment
To identify students' strengths and potential needs in social and emotional learning (SEL) skills, such as self-management, empathy, and relationship building.
This information helps provide targeted support, inform interventions, and support academic and personal growth by measuring students' emotional well-being, social skills, and school environment perceptions.
Time Students Will Spend Taking the Assessment
5-10 minutes.
Schedule for the Assessment
Three times a year; in the fall, winter and spring.See the CSD Assessment Calendar for exact dates.