State Mandated Testing
California has implemented the Reading Difficulties Risk Screener by establishing SB 114 (TK-12 Education Omnibus Trailer Bill), which was signed into law by Governor Newsom on July 10, 2023. SDUSD will be using mCLASS with DIBELS Edition 8 and mCLASS Lectura, published by Amplify Education, serving students in grades K–2, offered in English and Spanish. This screener will be given in August to all K-3rd graders.
The Smarter Balanced Assessment System will give parents and students more accurate and actionable information about what students are learning. Because these assessments are computer adaptive, they will also provide better information about the needs and successes of individual students. These next-generation assessments are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English language arts/literacy and mathematics for grades 3-8 and 11. That means students in all states will be taught to the same high standards.
The Smarter Balanced approach includes a number of differences from most state assessments today.
- These assessments will be administered online and will go beyond multiple choice questions to include performance tasks that allow students to demonstrate research, writing, and analytical skills.
- In addition to a year-end test, teachers will be able to administer interim assessments throughout the school year to monitor student progress and make adjustments to instruction.
- Accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners will be built into the system so that the progress of students can be accurately measured.
- An online reporting system will provide clear, easy-to-understand data on student achievement and growth. These reports will present parents, teachers, principals, and other local and state leaders with information they can use to help students make even greater progress. Learn more about the development of the Smarter Balanced reporting system.
It is recommended that parents and children visit the following webpage and take the practice test, to understand the rigor and level of difficulty of the new state assessments.
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/practice-test/
English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) identifies and monitors the progress of Multi-Language Learners (MLL). Initial assessments are given within 30 days of entering a CA School as possible MLL. Yearly Summative Assessment is given in Grades K-5 until a child reclassifies.
FITNESSGRAM: Physical Fitness Test for grade 5.
District Mandated Testing:
iReady Reading:
Grades 3-5 given in Fall, Winter, Spring
iReady Math:
Grades 2-5 given in Fall, Winter, Spring
Grade 1 given in Winter, Spring
Grade K given in Spring
Heggerty:
Transitional Kindergarten Fall, Winter, Spring
Site Mandated Testing:
Hawthorne has found great success being able to have longitudinal data on our students using the same measurement from Kindergarten through 5th grade. For many years we used the FAST tests in Reading and Math to accomplish this. When the district recently changed assessment plans based on state mandates and various other reasons we decided to pilot using what was mandated and expanding the assessments to cover all our students. in the 2025-26 school year we will be piloting the iReady Program for assessment and instructional differentiation. ALL students K-5th grade will take iReady Reading and Math assessments 3 times a year.
Special Education Testing:
Parents may request that a district psychologist and resource specialist evaluate their children for learning disabilities. Requests are to be made in writing to the principal. these request usually come after the onset of an outside diagnosis. Our staff monitors the progress of each child on a regular basis. A Student Study Team (SST) can be called with the parent or guardian when a child is not making progress or shows signs of a potential impact to their academic progress. These meetings can help determine the next steps the team should take
Performance:
- School Accountability Report Card (SARC)