Required Student Assessments

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Christi Donald

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The purpose of this webpage is to summarize expectations for academic student assessments in Iowa schools.

The tables below identify all assessment requirements for districts and nonpublic schools per federal law and Iowa code during the 2023-24 school year.

2023-24 Required Student Assessments and Training

Federal Requirements

Required Assessment	Legal Citation	Grades Required	Testing Window	Comments
State Academic Assessment - Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP)	Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Iowa Code 256.7(21)(b)(2) and Iowa Code 279.60(3) Applies to public districts	*For ESSA: Reading and mathematics: grades 3-8, 10 and 11. Science: grades 5, 8 and 10. For Iowa Code:* Reading and mathematics: grades 3-11. Science: grades 5, 8 and 10. * See note below table.	Per state statute, tests will be administered during the last quarter of the year. To accommodate district calendars, the testing window for 2023-24 will be open March 11 - May 3, 2024.	All students in these grades are to take this assessment. The exception is students taking the state alternate assessment.
State Alternate Assessment - Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)	Every Student Succeeds Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act	Reading and mathematics: Grades 3-11. Science: Grades 5, 8 and 10.	Fall: Phase 1 Sept. 12 - Oct. 27, 2023. Fall: Phase 2 Oct. 30 - Dec.22, 2023. Spring: Phase 1 Feb. 5 - Mar. 22, 2024. Spring: Phase 2 Mar. 25 - May 17, 2024.	For students with an Individual Education Program (IEP) describing qualification for Iowa’s Alternate Assessments.
ELPA21 Summative Assessment: Measure of Annual Progress and Attainment of English Alt ELPA21 Summative Test	IA Administrative Code (IAC) Rule 281.60.3(1) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) [Sec. 1111(b)(2)(G)(i) and (ii); Sec. 1112(e)(3)(a); Sec. 1112(e)(3)(b); Sec. 3113(b)(2)]	ELPA21 Summative: All K-12 English learners. Alt ELPA21 Summative: K-12 English learners with significant cognitive disabilities (test takes the place of general ELPA21 requirement).	Summative ELPA21: Jan 30 - Mar 22, 2024. Alt ELPA21: Jan 30- Mar 22, 2024.	100% participation is expected for ELPA21 Summative and Alt-ELPA21 including English learners with disabilities.
ELPA21 Dynamic Screener: Instrument used for Identification of English learners	IA Administrative Code (IAC) Rule 281.60.3(1) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) [Sec. 1111(b)(2)(G)(i) and (ii); Sec. 1112(e)(3)(a); Sec. 1112(e)(3)(b); Sec. 3113(b)(2)]	Dynamic Screener: All K-12 students new to a district whose Home Language Survey indicates a prominent use of a language other than English in the home. Note: Transfer students previously screened in another Iowa district do not need to be re-screened.	Dynamic Screener: Year-round. Screening is part of statewide entrance procedures for identification of English learners.	Screening, identification and parent notification of program placement must occur within the first 30 days of enrollment.

* Note: The Iowa School Performance Profiles is a ESSA-required report. Thus, Grade 9 is not included in the report, even though they are required by Iowa Code to be assessed.

State Requirements

Required Assessment	Legal Citation	Grades Required	Testing Window	Comments
Preschool Assessment - Teaching Strategies GOLD	Iowa Code 279.60(1) Child Development Coordinating Council Policy Applies to public districts community partners and Shared Visions Preschool Grantees	All PK or 4 year old students in a Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program, Early Childhood Special Education Program, or Shared Visions Preschool Program.	Fall: Aug. 12 - Nov. 17, 2023. Winter: Nov. 18, 2023 - Feb. 23, 2024. Spring: Feb. 24 - May 31, 2024.
Early Literacy Universal Screening and Progress Monitoring Assessment	Iowa Code 279.68	All students K-3, continuing for those students persistently at risk.	Fall: Aug. 27 – Sept. 29, 2023. Winter: Jan. 2 – Feb. 2, 2024. Spring: April 22 - May 31, 2024.	Districts may use any approved Universal Screening assessment to meet this requirement.
Early Literacy Alternate Assessment (ELAA)	Iowa Code 279.68 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act	K-3, continuing through 6th grade for those students persistently at risk.	Fall: Aug. 28 - Sept. 29, 2023. Winter: Oct. 2, 2023 - Feb. 2, 2024. Spring: Feb. 5 - May 31, 2024.	For students with an Individual Education Program (IEP) describing qualification for Iowa’s Alternate Assessments.
Diagnostic Literacy Assessment	Iowa Code 256D(1)(b)(1) Applies to public districts	K-3.		The required universal screening measures under Iowa Code 279.68 may be used to meet this requirement.
End-of-unit assessment for students taking one-half unit of U.S. Government.	Iowa Code 256.11(5)(b) Applies to public districts and accredited nonpublic schools	Applies to course, not grade level.	End of course